Willie O' Dea, Read This

[Fouga]

The F-16's they are getting are "used".

[Hess]

GDP per capita is a better definition of wealth. Romania is the poor man of Europe. Romania may have a military ethos but they couldn't fight their way out of a paper bag. See History. We (Republic of Ireland) have a fast growing economy, I've been in Romania a few times, and have never seen a more decrepit economy. Please do not compare the military history of the Irish with that of Romania. NO COMPARISON!

Let them have the ex-Israeli F-16s for €150 million or so , our government could blow that on a piss-up on a bank holiday weekend and nobody would notice. The only threat that they face is the hordes of people stampeding to get out of that country.

 

[Turkey]

Alright, we possably should have inteceptor and perhaps limited strike capablity in this country, but we have to be reaalistic about it .
Because of government stupidity, in the area of defence , we are playing catch up with the rest of the world.By the end of the present purchasing round we will have 6 helicopters, about a third of what we need  for minimum air-mobility.
Considering the amount of overseas activity this country's DF gets up to, that is a disgrace.
It is a disgrace of such degree, that none of the so-called government should be allowed the privalage of signing on , never mind the massively overpaid positions that they currently hold.
But this is only a part of what needs to be corrected first, Bal' for it's improvments and add-ons is still a RFC WW1 base.You could, in theory operate modern fighters from there.
But , I am not sure that any tax-payers want huge amounts of their money risked in this way.
The Air Corps should probally be the subject of a new White Paper all of it's own, setting out a proper plan for its future, outlining it's mission statement , and prepareing it to deploy overseas, when necessary, as welll as provide proper security/law enforcement assistance for this country....
Without a properly thought out plan, and the ba**s to carry it out then we will end up with,at best, some wastes of time and money like the fougas. My 2 cent worth.

[Flyboy]

Call the new runways roads, and call the new planes metro carriages, then you can re-equip the Air Corps out of the 34 BILLION euro budget planned to be spent over the next 10 years, and announced earlier this week. A foolproof plan !!!

[Fouga]

Flyboy are you saying we should lie to the public  

[Flyboy]

Fouga, isn't that what politicans do ?

[Old Redeye]

Czech MoD seeks airlifter information
Jiri Kominek JDW Correspondent
Prague

The Czech Ministry of Defence (MoD) has issued a request for information (RfI) to three military tactical transport aircraft manufacturers in an effort to replace its ageing Antonov An-26 lifters, which will be retired this decade.

The RfI is to help the MoD determine what type of aircraft it could afford to procure to meet a requirement of the air element of the Army of the Czech Republic (ACR) for a new tactical transport aircraft by 2010.

The MoD has approached Italy's Alenia Aeronautica (C-27J Spartan), Spain's CASA (C-235/295) and Lockheed Martin (C-130J).

During a visit to the US in the last week of October by Czech Minister of Defence Karel Kuhnl and senior ACR staff, some members of the delegation were given a detailed briefing on the Lockheed Martin C-130J.

This is the second time Czech officials have visited the C-130J production facility in the past 12 months.

"I can confirm that the MoD has issued an RfI for tactical transport aircraft; however, at this point we are not in a position to discuss this issue at greater length," said MoD spokesman Andrej Cirtek.

The fact that the MoD has approached Lockheed Martin for information on the C-130J indicates the ministry and ACR staff have reversed an earlier decision to remove the aircraft from further consideration due to cost.

Sources close to the Czech MoD have said that the increased interest in a tactical aircraft replacement by senior MoD officials is the result of senior ACR staff stressing the urgency for such an aircraft.

The ACR's An-26s will reach the end of their service life by 2010, leaving the service with no airlift capability unless a replacement platform is found soon.

Even with five years remaining on the airframe, the An-26 cannot perform many of the tasks demanded of the ACR, including humanitarian and disaster relief, as well as more traditional tactical military airlift roles, because the aircraft lacks the necessary payload capacity and range.

[Flyboy]

Why the sudden interest in the Romanian and Czech aircraft requirements. What effect will this have on the Irish Air Corps ?

[Old Redeye]

Here's another alternative, the B737-700C/QC (Quick Change).  Identical to US Navy C-40A (pictured).

Able to satisfy multiple requirments at an acceptable cost - about $US53 million.

* long range airlift with capability for eight pallets, or 120 pax, or 70 pax + three pallets
* (mass) casualty evacuation supporting international operations or humanitarian crises with a palletized medical kit
* MATS G-IV replacement with a palletized VIP kit

Recommendation:  Purchase along with a new CN-235-300 ($US18 million) for a total of $US71 million

Cost comparison:
A.C-130J ($US65M) + MATS Global 5000 ($US35M) = $US100M
B.C-295 ($US25M) + Global 5000 = $US60M

[clan]

I cannot see it happening, buying a B737 especially after Bertie didn't get his one. Still see second hand being the way to go or a lease arrangement,

[pym]

I like the 737/Casa option and it would be my preferred choice.

Bertie didnt get his because it was painted to the public as being a luxury jet wheras this one would also serve a military role.

Is the learjet still being sold as per rumour a few months ago?

[Hess]

Michael O'Leary of Ryanair offered to buy a B737 for MATS but the government refused. Possible strings attached, I think!

[Fouga]

Would the use of Bal have been one of those huge strings? Maybe they should have accepted!Would have modernised the hell out of Bal!

[Hess]

Irish Air Corps {FLY RYANAIR}!!!!!!!!!!!!! ps Can we have the Bal?! Money no problem.

[GoneToTheCanner]

Hi all
You can have Baldonnel as a civvie airport when you:
Build a complete new pax terminal.
upgrade the runways.
Add two ILSs
Add a modern radar/SSR
Expand the size of the ramp.
Provide suitable ground servicing vehicles.
Build a hangar capable of holding a B737-800 (fully-enclosed).
Build access to the airfield on the South side.
Get rid of all external holds on the land, such as grass-cutting contracts, tithes,ground rent,etc.
A modern ATC tower.
A proper peri track and decent fencing.
Oh, yeah, sell the idea of jet traffic circulating at low-level over the Southside of Dublin.   '>
Did I forget anything?
regards
GttC