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DON LAVERY
The intervention by Taoiseach @LeoVaradkar to ask @defenceforces to look at acquiring a military transport plane is remarkable - given the context of Governments refusing just that for 20 years.
The intervention by Taoiseach @LeoVaradkar to ask @defenceforces to look at acquiring a military transport plane is remarkable - given the context of Governments refusing just that for 20 years.
In a twist nobody saw coming, Mr Varadkar said the lack of a military transport plane was "a real weakness" for Ireland.
He said he had spoken to @DF_COS Vice Admiral Mark Mellett about it.
He said he had spoken to @DF_COS Vice Admiral Mark Mellett about it.
The Taoiseach appeared to suggest acquiring an airliner-type aircraft.
"Given there are so many on the ground at the moment, and perhaps aeroplanes are inexpensive at the moment, this would allow us to get our own troops back and forth to Lebanon".
"Given there are so many on the ground at the moment, and perhaps aeroplanes are inexpensive at the moment, this would allow us to get our own troops back and forth to Lebanon".
His comments came amid the worldwide pandemic when Ireland's lack of any airlift capability was highlighted once again.
It is the first time any Taoiseach has referred so directly to our "weakness" in airlift capability.
It is the first time any Taoiseach has referred so directly to our "weakness" in airlift capability.
As long ago as 1999 a Defence Forces submission to the First White Paper on Defence urged the Government to acquire a long range transport plane at a cost of £50m.
It would have been in the class of the C-130 Hercules, a standard transport plane in use around the world.
It would have been in the class of the C-130 Hercules, a standard transport plane in use around the world.
However it did not get support from Government.
Then Defence Minister Michael Smith told me:" The f#cking thing would be sitting on the ground 360 days of the year".
Then Defence Minister Michael Smith told me:" The f#cking thing would be sitting on the ground 360 days of the year".
Five years later there was another chance to get a transport aircraft.
Taoiseach Bertie Ahern was thoroughly peeved at his use of the Gulfstream jet by @IrishAirCorps
The aircraft had 11,000 hours, had been hit by lightening twice, and had frequent technical issues.
Taoiseach Bertie Ahern was thoroughly peeved at his use of the Gulfstream jet by @IrishAirCorps
The aircraft had 11,000 hours, had been hit by lightening twice, and had frequent technical issues.
Mr Ahern said in the Dail:" I am told there is not an aircraft in the world, or the Third World, that has flown that number of hours".
He said the jet was "in the ha'penny place compared to other countries".
He said the jet was "in the ha'penny place compared to other countries".
He also complained that "the comfort we have compared to what others have is minimal for a country of our size and status".
Jets considered were the Boeing BBJ, Airbus ACJ, Bombardier Global Express and Gulfstream V.
Jets considered were the Boeing BBJ, Airbus ACJ, Bombardier Global Express and Gulfstream V.
Either the BBJ or ACJ would have given a huge boost to @defenceforces .
The BBJ had a range of 6,000 miles while the ACJ could be reconfigured from MATS to lift 7 tons of cargo or carry 100 Irish troops.
The BBJ had a range of 6,000 miles while the ACJ could be reconfigured from MATS to lift 7 tons of cargo or carry 100 Irish troops.
However, the problem was the DoD didn't have the €60m to buy the new aircraft.
Defence Minister Smith said a supplementary estimate didn't arise "at this stage"
A VFM cost benefit analysis was to be carried out on the tenders.
Defence Minister Smith said a supplementary estimate didn't arise "at this stage"
A VFM cost benefit analysis was to be carried out on the tenders.
But Taoiseach Ahern recommended to the Government that they not proceed with the purchase.
The lack of airlift was again highlighted in the Chad mission.
The lack of airlift was again highlighted in the Chad mission.
A logistics expert, then Comdt Garry McKeon, said the situation was "neither ideal or desirable".
He said in the deployment of personnel, baggage and light equipment " we were totally at the mercy" of other forces for airlift and medevac capacity.
He said in the deployment of personnel, baggage and light equipment " we were totally at the mercy" of other forces for airlift and medevac capacity.
"As if highlighting our lack of air assets, the Chadian Air Force had a C-130 parked on the apron at N'Djamena airport".
However then Defence Minister Willie O'Dea dismissed the idea of buying an aircraft.
However then Defence Minister Willie O'Dea dismissed the idea of buying an aircraft.
Purchasing such an aircraft "would be expensive and difficult to maintain" and would not be used enough to be cost efficient".
The issue was again dismissed when it came to Ireland joining an EU battlegroup in 2006.
The issue was again dismissed when it came to Ireland joining an EU battlegroup in 2006.
The DoD said:" There are other contributors to Battlegroups who also lack the necessary lift capacity within their own forces, so it is not a problem unique to Ireland".
In 2008 DoD told me there were no plans to acquired a tactical fixed wing transport aircraft.
In 2008 DoD told me there were no plans to acquired a tactical fixed wing transport aircraft.
Since then other moves to acquire second-hand Casa 235 aircraft came to nothing.
At least two SOF missions were planned to rescue Irish citizeens abroad - but with no means of getting SF troops to the locations.
At least two SOF missions were planned to rescue Irish citizeens abroad - but with no means of getting SF troops to the locations.
New Casa-295 MPA aircraft to come into service could be used for "evacuation missions" with specific support to SOF.
They can carry six tons and 20 soldiers.
Transport planes, including C-27J and KC-390, have been shown to @IrishAirCorps with no orders forthcoming.
They can carry six tons and 20 soldiers.
Transport planes, including C-27J and KC-390, have been shown to @IrishAirCorps with no orders forthcoming.
So it remains to be seen whether the surprising initiative by @LeoVaradkar will bear fruit.
Watch this space.
Watch this space.
