Should the Air Corps get fighter jets?

[Frank (Admin)]

Hi Guys,

A few weeks ago the Minister for Defence Mr. Michael Smith was asked about the purchase of fighter jets for the Air Corps, and it was put to him that it was a disgrace that the RAF would have to be called upon to defend us in the event of a terrorist attack and that the government should be purchasing fighter jets instead of a VIP jet.  The Minister responded by saying:
 
"On the very day I would announce the purchase of such jets, people would be complaining that the money should be spend on education ..... A government's job is to priortise what the country's needs are...."

Do you think the Minister is right or wrong with this statement?  

Would you support his decision to buy fighter jets?  

Do we need these aircraft?

Should the Air Corps be equipped with jets that at the very least would be capable of catching up with a "stray" jetliner?

Post your thoughts & answers here.


Regards,

Frank.

[Irish Marine]

'>
    I am going to keep my answer short and to the point-Yes, I wish the aircorps got  a lot of new aircraft and jets would be on my list.  Bottom line it would be great to see the Air Corps get out of the third world and become a top notch organization.  I am sure the people in the aircorps would love to have everything that is mentioned in the above. I cant see people sticking around if things dont change.

Great subject Frank!!!!!

[FiannaFail]

Frank,
Of course they should and THEY WILL! The  money released throught the sale of Gormonston will be used to purchase fighter jets.
FF '>

Yes, jet fighters should be purchased without further delay, but since the government we have at the moment are a total shower of pr**ks, it will not happen.
Going by past history, the last jets were orderd by a fg/labour government, not as ff says, by ff.

[Silver]

YES YES YES.

 
Chances of it actually happening -

SLIM SLIM SLIM.

 '>

[Imshi-Yallah]

I have to admit the practicality of operating even free or near free aircraft is dubious in the extreme certainly the thought of any modern combat aircraft in IAC colours is a pleasant one, and god knows there is no credence in the efforts of the government to turn the corps into a business, with profit making and selected consumers as the driving force.
However one thing I will stand firmly by is that such aircraft if purchased should be at the far end of a complete re-equipment program.
This isn't to do with the peculiar brand of clientist piety that riddles the population of the state its to do with meeting the needs of the defence forces as a whole.
So I'd say a conditional no unless the cost of running aircraft can be greatly reduced by as much as 60% (Gripen is a step in the right direction and if we had any sort of Defence aerospace industry for offset investment it might have been a realistic option) and the rest of the Air Corps and Defence forces needs are met.

[batafada]

yes ! once again  turk , you are correct in your assertions
. that ff one , its shamefull how little she knows , considering
her being a member of the armed forces ?? then again , maybe she is restrained by security precautions !!  yea right

[Irish Marine]

It wont be for a long time that we see a fighter jet in the proud colours of our beloved Irish Aircorps!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We will just have to see trainers flying around!!! In todays world I cant see many of the lads at the Don sticking around to play with third world hardware.  

I will close by saying that someone better take a stand and revamp the entire Defence Forces!!!!!!!!!!! '>  '>  '>  '>  '>

[Old Redeye]

Absoloutely not!  Fast jets would satisfy which established requirements exactly?  None exists other than airshows, parades and photo ops.  A foolish waste of precious resources.  The minister is correct about how such a purchase would be perceived in the eyes of the general public, and they would be right.  As it is, eight PC-9's is probably two too many for the training requirement.  And why are they armed exactly?

Real requirements:

Credible tactical airlift - C-130J-30 or C 295
Battlefield Support Helicopters - at least four more A-149's
Light FW utility - 2x PC-6 Turbo Porters
FW multi-engine trainer/utility - a new(er) B200/B350/C90
New long range MATS jet - Global 5000
CN-235MPA MLU

[matt_k]

I agree. As much as I would love to see Air Corps fast-jets, I still think the priority is to increase our amount of multi engine and rotary wing aircraft before anything else.

[pilatus]

they should have them, but for now there are more urgent requirenments such as transport and helis!4or5 merlins or hips would be a real treat followed by 2 c27j spartans!

[RMR]

YAWN !