AIRLIFT FOR THE AIR CORPS:
We need to ask the right question.
When I served in the Air Corps, I was often asked to reply to a question like this:
YOU’RE THE EXPERTS, SO TELL US WHAT AIRCRAFT THE AIR CORPS NEEDS TO PROVIDE AIRLIFT?
This is the wrong question.
(1/15)
We need to ask the right question.
When I served in the Air Corps, I was often asked to reply to a question like this:
YOU’RE THE EXPERTS, SO TELL US WHAT AIRCRAFT THE AIR CORPS NEEDS TO PROVIDE AIRLIFT?
This is the wrong question.
(1/15)
The Air Corps answer was always:
“Whether a C-130/C-27/C-295/A400/ACJ etc, we can train crews, & thereafter operate and maintain it.” (& they can)
But, the other response was:
“Tell us what you want it to do?”
Here are some sample answers that I’ve heard over the years:
(2/15)
“Whether a C-130/C-27/C-295/A400/ACJ etc, we can train crews, & thereafter operate and maintain it.” (& they can)
But, the other response was:
“Tell us what you want it to do?”
Here are some sample answers that I’ve heard over the years:
(2/15)
The ARW:
Land on short airstrips and/or on unprepared strips, at night; lights out (NVGs). Carry a vehicle and a platoon(-) for rapid deployment by ramp door for independent SOF ops. Para Ops (HALO). Countermeasure equipped. ISTAR capable. No identifying marks for opsec. (3/15)
Land on short airstrips and/or on unprepared strips, at night; lights out (NVGs). Carry a vehicle and a platoon(-) for rapid deployment by ramp door for independent SOF ops. Para Ops (HALO). Countermeasure equipped. ISTAR capable. No identifying marks for opsec. (3/15)
MATS Tender Criteria (mid-2000’s);
Replace the GIV with an aircraft that can carry 26 pax 6,000nm at jet speeds. VIP seating configuration. Operate without Ground Support Equipment. Must have Ireland MATS livery (white with harp on tail). (4/15)
Replace the GIV with an aircraft that can carry 26 pax 6,000nm at jet speeds. VIP seating configuration. Operate without Ground Support Equipment. Must have Ireland MATS livery (white with harp on tail). (4/15)
Logs Admin:
Carry up to 250 troops plus bags for each of the three chalks of a UNIFIL Bn rotation.
Also:
Carry approx 15 tonnes of cargo including dangerous goods (weapons, ammo, ordnance) to Lebanon/Mali/Liberia/Congo/Bosnia etc depending on what year Logs were asked. (5/15)
Carry up to 250 troops plus bags for each of the three chalks of a UNIFIL Bn rotation.
Also:
Carry approx 15 tonnes of cargo including dangerous goods (weapons, ammo, ordnance) to Lebanon/Mali/Liberia/Congo/Bosnia etc depending on what year Logs were asked. (5/15)
DFHQ:
Varying over the years between…
The Air Corps will provide support for all DF roles assigned by Govt.
That is a decision for GOC Air Corps.
We need a civil/military working group.
It will be in the upcoming Strategy Statement.
Current priority are new ships.
(6/15)
Varying over the years between…
The Air Corps will provide support for all DF roles assigned by Govt.
That is a decision for GOC Air Corps.
We need a civil/military working group.
It will be in the upcoming Strategy Statement.
Current priority are new ships.
(6/15)
DFA/Irish Aid:
Move 20 tonnes of Irish aid to any part of Africa, South America or Far East, directly, at short notice, to an airfield in the middle of an area of natural disaster (tsunami, earthquake etc). No military markings so as to appear neutral while helping NGOs. (7/15)
Move 20 tonnes of Irish aid to any part of Africa, South America or Far East, directly, at short notice, to an airfield in the middle of an area of natural disaster (tsunami, earthquake etc). No military markings so as to appear neutral while helping NGOs. (7/15)
An Irish contingent commander overseas (fill in UN mission name here):
I want an aircraft that can support my mission with full time tactical airlift of troops and/or cargo throughout the mission area 24/7, with strategic medevac capability and repatriation if required. (8/15)
I want an aircraft that can support my mission with full time tactical airlift of troops and/or cargo throughout the mission area 24/7, with strategic medevac capability and repatriation if required. (8/15)
EUFOR:
All troop contributing nations are expected to deploy their assets into theatre at their own expense, either by organic means, or by leasing the capability, as Ireland did for deploying the ARW as IEF into Chad and the main body via commercial means. (9/15)
All troop contributing nations are expected to deploy their assets into theatre at their own expense, either by organic means, or by leasing the capability, as Ireland did for deploying the ARW as IEF into Chad and the main body via commercial means. (9/15)
To be clear; These examples are not meant to be judgmental. It’s just what happened in my personal experience during my career. The point is that in order to support all the competing stakeholders, the aircraft that the Air Corps purchase would need to be able to: (10/15)
Take off from a 2,000ft strip, fly 6,000nm, or to the Far East, at M.80, carry 250 troops, 20 tonnes of cargo, SOF vehicles, land on a dirt strip at night with no lights using nvgs, deploy via a ramp door & have both a VIP livery & no markings. Oh, and be inexpensive. (11/15)
No single role justifies the cost, but combined...
So next time new airlift for the Air Corps is discussed, the 1st question should be:
WHAT DO WE WANT IT TO DO?
because every stakeholder has different airlift needs, yet they never speak to or agree with each other.
(12/15)
So next time new airlift for the Air Corps is discussed, the 1st question should be:
WHAT DO WE WANT IT TO DO?
because every stakeholder has different airlift needs, yet they never speak to or agree with each other.
(12/15)
There has to be a committee established with ALL possible stakeholders at the table, military and civilian, to advise their individual needs. Then a decision, at a National level, can be made based on the most compelling need, to agree the Tender criteria for a purchase. (13/15)
Otherwise, The Air Corps will continue its efforts to telepathically guess the various airlift capabilities that the Govt, media or public might expect them to provide, at some point in the future, for them to then attempt to create work-arounds using an existing fleet.(14/15)
“We can’t do a NEO from Kabul.”
“We can’t deploy troops to X.”
“We can’t conduct firefighting in Y.”
“We can’t fly emergency aid to Z.”
Identify priority roles and the airframe picks itself.
‘Top down’ rather than ‘bottom up’ thinking is needed. #NationalAsset
(15/15) ENDS
“We can’t deploy troops to X.”
“We can’t conduct firefighting in Y.”
“We can’t fly emergency aid to Z.”
Identify priority roles and the airframe picks itself.
‘Top down’ rather than ‘bottom up’ thinking is needed. #NationalAsset
(15/15) ENDS
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