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THE STATE HAS laid down a deposit on a new cargo aircraft for the Irish Air Corps, which would carry troops and vehicles to foreign military missions and rescue stranded Irish citizens.
Multiple sources have said that the deposit was paid on 23 December by the Department of Defence and the final cost could be in the region of €50 million.
It is understood that the Government was anxious to progress the procurement before the end of 2022, with an amendment made to an existing tender with European aircraft manufacturer Airbus.
The original contract was focused on two replacement Casa maritime patrol aircraft for the Air Corps. That tender is nearing completion as the delivery of these new aircraft is imminent.
They will be dedicated to patrolling the Irish Exclusive Economic Zone and monitoring fishing and other ship movements.
They have also provided, on occasion, radio relay for long distance search and rescue operations as well as occasional air ambulance flights.
One of the Casas was used to repatriate the body of Private Seán Rooney.
Sources have said that the decision to expedite the tendering process with an amendment followed anxious discussions about the need to see urgent progress in one of the key recommendations in the Commission on the Defence Forces.
A source said that the decision to opt for the Casa 295 cargo variant means that the Air Corps pilots will not require extensive training in “converting” their qualifications to flying the aircraft.
The final decision was made with the arrival of Tánaiste Micheál Martin to the Minister for Defence role. It is understood that he was informed of the decision following a meeting of the High Level Planning and Procurement Group.
This group is tasked with implementing key findings from the Commission on the Defence Forces, which recommended a major overhaul of the air capabilities of the Irish Air Corps.
Delivery
Sources have said that the aircraft manufacturers indicated delivery is expected in 2025.
Those sources have also told The Journal that the Air Corps is still advocating for a separate long-range small jet, not just for ministerial air transportation but also for medical evacuations of soldiers and Irish civilians.
This website has reported extensively on this issue and revealed previously that the Government had engaged an aircraft consultancy to determine the best course of action to replace the current jet.
The issue of Ireland’s lack of large military transport aircraft was highlighted in the wake of the Kabul mission to rescue Irish citizens in 2021.
Members of the Army Ranger Wing (ARW), the Irish army’s special forces unit, were dispatched to rescue Irish citizens from the Afghan capital.
As the Irish Air Corps did not have a long-range aircraft suitable for the mission, French and Finnish aircraft were used for their flights to and from the war-torn country.
Altea, which has offices across Europe and in Canada, carried out a report for the department and documents we obtained through the Freedom of Information Act revealed that there were discussions on the purchase of aircraft.
Major capability jump
Former military officer Deputy Cathal Berry, TD, has been campaigning for the cargo variant – he welcomed the news.
“This is a huge step forward and is a major capability jump not just for the Defence Forces but for the whole country.
“In the 100-year history of the State we have never had this before – we’ve never had an organic capability to deploy troops and extract large numbers of citizens in difficulty.
“Every other nation state in the EU has this capability in, bar Malta – it is beyond time for Ireland to have this.
“There is a lot of credit to the Army Ranger Wing team who went to Kabul because they established a proof of concept – they showed that Ireland can deploy at short notice to rescue Irish citizens,” he said.
Berry said that the important next step is to ensure that there are technicians and air crew available to fly the aircraft when delivered.
He also suggested that Ireland, when the aircraft is delivered, should join the European Air Transport Command, which is an EU body in which nations pool heavy lift capabilities.
“This organisation makes aircraft available to fly and assist other countries – that would keep this aircraft flying regularly. It would also mean that we could get access to even heavier aircraft for transportation missions,” he added.
A spokesperson for the Department of Defence said: “The Department has no comment on this at present but will be in a position to give an update in the near future.”
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Since when is Paul o’grady running apple
Is devotion to Apple products and services a new form of consumer religion?
Yes anthony the cult of apple is a scary one
Apple products are poorly designed because they become obsolete so quickly.
Or very cleverly designed as you have to upgrade every two years. Consumer electronics are not built to last, no matter who designs them.
The designs are great, it’s the price that’s poor. I would not mind having to regularly update if the prices were reasonable.
Consumer durability is an important aspect of good and environmentally sound design.
You don’t upgrade Apple products. You replace the product and the previous product becomes quickly disabled and unusable event by firmware and OS upgrades.
Apples uses cheap labour which works in appalling conditions.
Apple products look nice though.
My six year old still functioning perfectly MacBook Pro would beg to differ
My 10 month old bandjaxed 5th generation iPod Touch would beg to agree.
Apple laptops are superb but their phones aren’t….. They are made in difference places
“You don’t upgrade Apple products. You replace the product and the previous product becomes quickly disabled and unusable event by firmware and OS upgrades.”
You could easily get 3-5 years out of an iPhone if you wanted. Apple (and good developers) provide support as best they can for older versions of iOS.
“Apples uses cheap labour which works in appalling conditions.”
Several other companies (Samsung, Playstation to name a few) also use Foxconn to manufacture their products, yet there isn’t any mention about them. (source: http://www.computerworld.com/article/2492795/it-careers/foxconn-builds-products-for-many-vendors–but-its-mud-sticks-to-apple.html)
Apple products are very well made and reliable and therefore tend to last longer, but unlike all the android phones from specific manufacturers Apple offer free easy to install upgrades. Android updates are only available for phones running the standard version. If you have a HTC or whatever you have to wait for the company specific one. There is something like 5% of phones running the latest android versus something like 60% running iOS 8.
The new versions have new features that need more oomph so will run slow on older phones but you do not have to upgrade.
Yes, they are way overpriced, yes they are locked down (which adds to reliability) and annoyingly the battery isn’t removeable and there are no external ports or microsd slots but I don’t agree one bit they are designed for obsolescence. (and yes I like apple products).
As would my 6 year old MacBook Pro, iphone 4 and 160gb iPod classic .I was really annoyed they discontinued the iPod classic. I like listening to lots of music. I don’t need apps and crap battery life on my music device
Watch what IOS 8 does to previous versions of iPads and IPods!
Upgrade the IOS at your peril.
Another Troll here!!
I use android for everything, except music. You really can’t beat the iPod classic.
@Bunny: Apple products are reliable because they are so basic. I was in PC world looking at the specs on desktops last week and came up with that I think is a spiffing analogy. Say you want to cut something and you have the choice between an Apple Scissors and Bosche Electric Saw. The Apple Scissors (iScissors) is stylish but most of all it dosnt break. Its super reliable. It always cuts therefore its really well made and well designed product. The electric saw can cut more things, faster and has more functions. Its not necessarily built better than the iScissors, it just have many more parts and features. The iScissors has very few features so it gives off the illusion of being better built (less moving parts). Now the iScissors has a cult following and people will pay €1999.99 for a pair. while the saw retails at €599.99 .
Apple products are sort of like this. They are marketed at people who dont really understand what they are buying. They are paying through the nose for a product that is so basic it breaks less because there are less parts to it. I cant understand how money is so irrelevant for some people that they will buy iMacs and iPhones. Can I have some money? I have a great pair of iScissors for sale. Never break, cuts almost anything.
They produce hugh amounts of waste and untold damage to the environment all in the name of profit.
@Joseph
Not according to Greenpeace (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/apple/11070662/Apple-leads-the-way-on-reducing-environmental-harm.html)
i don’t know where to begin with pointing out how flawed that “logic” is…..
@David Apple like all other multinationals do an absolute minimum to reduce their carbon footprint because it gets in the way of profit. Their “leading the way” is pure self interest, pure PR. What makes Apple so successful is everything they do is planned down to the last detail.
@francis fakeman. Can you please explain what you think can be done on an android that can’t be done on iOS exactly? As for macs, they are meant to be excellent (ie unmatched) in some areas which is why they are loved by their owners.
They have less parts so break less often. Surely this is a good think. Good design means less parts and therefore more reliable.
As for “they are bought by people who don’t know what they are buying”, you couldn’t be further from the truth, with me anyway. I’ve had XDA’s ruining windows CE, HTCs and Samsungs running android, blackberrys etc. I also have 29 years in IT under my belt with windows from 3.0, os/2, NT clustered environments , AIX on RS6000/SPs. You don’t think I understand what I am buying. You are wrong and I am happy with the functionality AND the reliability.
Ill informed, dumb comment. Check your facts first
Wrong, wrong and again wrong. Check your facts
What comment? What facts? Stupid comment.
Don’t need it ,don’t buy it.
I’m sure it will prove very fruitful…..
It gives me the pip.
Apple needs to find new areas of business to survive, their products are over priced and are no longer the cutting edge innovative technology they were.They have almost cult status amongst its consumers but they know that it is only a matter of time before people cop on to the great rip off.
I heard similar arguments 5 years ago
Apple will eventually be surpassed but it’s not going be an overnight collapse. Like sony’s dominence of personal music players or microsofts dominace of pc’s, eventually it will be gradually eclipsed by changing tech and trends. Probably a good few years off yet.
Microsoft still dominate PCs. What are you on about ?
They do and sony still make a walkman mp3 player, but how many people have either in there house now. Microsoft used to be the world’s most valuable tech company and sony used to innovate, like releasing the first lithium ion battery. Apple wont disappear when they stop releasing innovative products but they will get overtaken eventually by other tech companies just like microsoft was by apple and google.
Joseph, new apple stuff, heard of the apple watch ?
Brian thats because not as many people buy pc’s anymore. Imacs still sell bucketloads
I have to accept one thing and this is genuine admiration. I admire the brand loyalty of Aplle fans and how they remain devoted to the Apple ecosystem. Fair dues. Total respect.
It’s the ecosystem that’s the real product Anthony. The gadgets are just interfaces.
Q. For all you IT people. Does the Netflix app on a Samsung Smart TV actually work for anyone in the UK? I’m having to plug an Apple TV into the back of mine. Loads of conversations on various Samsung support forums talk about tricking your Samsung into thinking it’s in the US and getting US content but the Apple TV just works.
My wife decided a few cars ago that she’s just going to drive Volkswagen Golfs. Good enough and she’s other things to spend her time and money on. Every time her car comes up for renewal she just hands one back and gets the next one, and every five years or so the car journalists confirms her loyalty by giving the Golf Car of he Year. That might annoy motoring purists but she’s happy enough.
have your say