Armée Irlandaise/Irish Armed Forces

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SHARPEYE From Kelvin Hughes Selected By Irish Naval Service For Fleet Radar Upgrade


Kelvin Hughes, a world leader in the design and supply of navigation and surveillance systems, is delighted to announce that the Irish Naval Service has selected the SharpEye™ radar and the MantaDigital™ display for the incremental upgrade of its fleet.
Ships of the Irish Naval Service operate in some of the harshest maritime conditions, including the North Atlantic, and the decision in favour of SharpEye™ was strongly influenced by the enhanced situational awareness that the radar system can provide, particularly in adverse conditions and high sea states. Under the terms of the contract, the upgrades will take place over a three year period as vessels become available for or require a refit.
Available in both I and E/F band frequencies, the SharpEye™ radar system represents a radical and innovative departure from current marine navigation radar technology in that it has no magnetron and uses a coherent transmission, making it capable of separating small targets from clutter due to their differing radial velocity components. The MantaDigital™ workstation is a multi-function display platform, which can host radar, ECDIS and conning functionality on a wide-screen display surface.

Rohan Dearlove, Kelvin Hughes’ Head of Sales Central Region, commented: “We’re delighted to be working with the Irish Naval Service with whom we have had a long association. The enhanced performance of SharpEye™ will undoubtedly enable the Service’s vessels to operate more effectively.”

http://www.navyrecognition.com

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   Mission Readiness Exercise of the 42nd Infantry Group, UNIFIL in the Glen of Imaal, Wicklow.

The troops are scheduled to deploy in late November 2013 and will consist of 181 Defence Forces personnel. The contingent has a wide range of capabilities affording excellent operational effectiveness. These include armored force protection, patrolling, communications, medical and operational expertise. The personnel of the unit have a mix of experience from first trip soldiers and officers to highly experienced senior non commissioned officers and commanders.

Photos by Cpl Neville Coughlan, DF PR Branch





 

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Irish vessel launched from Appledore shipyard


AROUND 100 people gathered to watch an Irish Navy ship launch from Appledore shipyard yesterday (Sun).
The ship, named LÉ Samuel Beckett after the world renowned Irish literary figure, floated out of Babcock Marine just before 5pm.
LÉ Samuel Beckett was played out by the Appledore Town Band as a lull in the wind allowed the operation to go ahead.
The ship is 90 metre long and 14 metres wide.
During the float out, the band played the Irish National Anthem and the ship was blessed and cheered on its way.





http://www.northdevongazette.co.uk/news/photos_irish_vessel_launched_from_appledore_shipyard_1_2963114

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Northern Ireland Police UAS Helps Defuse Terrorist Explosive Device



The Police Service of Northern Ireland has confirmed that the UAS technology was used to help keep the community, police and Army officers safe as a “small, viable device” was defused in Jamaica Street in the Ardoyne area of north Belfast.Known as Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), three of the small remote controlled aircraft were purchased by the PSNI at a cost of £1m ahead of last June’s meeting of world leaders.
They were used to fly over the area around the summit venue to ensure the protection of the visiting dignitaries.
A number of homes had to be evacuated during yesterday’s alert and the road closed when the suspect object was reported to police at around 2.30pm. Locals raised the alarm after seeing an object being thrown at two men in the street.
The unmanned aircraft, operated by a member of the PSNI Air Support Unit, flew over the device for an aerial inspection, relaying images back to bomb disposal officers before it was defused.
A PSNI spokesman said: “As part of the response and in order to keep the community, police and Army officers safe a limited aerial capability was required.
“These systems are flown in accordance with Civil Aviation Authority approval.”
The device was taken away. Residents were allowed back into their homes and the road reopened around 8pm.
The UAS are operated by trained security personnel within the line of sight of the craft.
Following this latest policing deployment, UAS may be used in both urban and rural environments for traffic management, searches for missing or wanted persons, public order situations and for evidence gathering. After the decision to purchase three drones was made in April this year, Policing Board chair Brian Rea described the new equipment as “a valuable asset” to the PSNI in policing a range of situations.
A full review of the use of the UAS will be carried out by the office of the Oversight Commissioner after a year of operation to assess their effectiveness.

http://www.uasvision.com/2013/11/07/northern-ireland-police-uas-helps-defuse-terrorist-explosive-device/

  

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Ireland orders Protector RWS for Piranha III APCs




The Irish Defence Forces have signed a contract with Kongsberg Defence Systems to equip Ireland's General Dynamics European Land Systems - MOWAG Piranha III armoured personnel carriers (APCs) with the Kongsberg Protector remote weapon station (RWS).
Ireland currently operates some 80 Piranha III APCs, first ordered in 2001, with the new RWS forming part of a general upgrade of the vehicles.
Announced on 10 January, the contract will see Kongsberg supply a first batch of RWSs for the APCs. As part of the upgrade programme, Kongsberg will eventually provide Protector M151 RWSs for all of Ireland's Piranha IIIs over a five-year period, beginning in September 2014.

http://www.janes.com/article/32205/ireland-orders-protector-rws-for-piranha-iii-apcs

Bofors L70  

  

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Irish Naval Service receives first new OPV



The Irish Naval Service (INS) has taken delivery of the first of two offshore patrol vessels (OPVs), built by Babcock Marine's Appledore shipyard under a GBP82 million (USD137 million) contract.
The 1,900-tonne vessel, LE Samuel Beckett , was handed over to the INS on 28 April and will enter service later this year after a period of trials. The vessel will be based at Haulbowline in County Cork.
Ireland ordered two Samuel Beckett-class vessels in October 2010, with an option for a third. The second will be named LE James Joyce , with the vessels replacing the INS’ 65 m P21-class OPVs. The vessels are themselves based on STX Marine's PV 90 design, which is a lengthened variant of the PV 80 design employed for the INS’ two 1,700-ton Roisin-class OPVs; built by Appledore Shipbuilders for the INS between 1998 and 2001.
The vessels are armed with an Oto Melara 76 mm main gun and two 20 mm Rheinmetall cannons and have mountings for machine guns.
The Samuel Beckett class is powered by a diesel-electric drive system providing a top speed of 23 kt and a range of 6,000 n miles. Designed for a crew of 44, the vessel will undertake fishery protection duties, drug interdiction, and maritime security operations.

http://www.janes.com/article/37169/irish-naval-service-receives-first-new-opv

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L’Irlande modernise sa flotte de Cessna ultra-polyvalents

http://www.avionslegendaires.net/2014/05/actu/lirlande-modernise-sa-flotte-de-cessna-ultra-polyvalents/

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First Babcock-built Irish Naval Service Offshore Patrol Vessel named and commissioned


The first-of-class LÈ Samuel Becket was named by Mrs Caroline Murphy, a niece of Samuel Beckett, in Dublin this weekend alongside the Samuel Beckett Bridge. The naming was followed by the commissioning ceremony which was led by Mr Enda Kenny TD, Irish Prime Minister (An Taoiseach) and Minister for Defence, who made the main speech.

The first of the Irish Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs) being built by Babcock for the Irish Naval Service has been officially named and commissioned today, following successful completion of sea trials and handover at Babcock's Appledore shipyard in North Devon at the end of April 2014.
The first of the Irish Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs) being built by Babcock for the Irish Naval Service has been officially named and commissioned May 17 2014, following successful completion of sea trials and handover at Babcock's Appledore shipyard in North Devon at the end of April 2014.

LÈ Samuel Becket will be operational with immediate effect undertaking a range of duties including fishery protection, search and rescue, anti-pollution and maritime security duties, including vessel boardings. To conduct these operations a crew of 44, plus ten trainee berths, are accommodated to high comfort and habitability standards.

The approx 90 metre, 2256 tonne OPV has autonomous engine rooms and is capable of a top speed of 23 knots, and a range of 6,000 nautical miles at its cruise speed of 15 knots on a single engine. The propulsion system utilises a diesel electric drive system providing a loiter function of up to 6 knots. A comprehensive command, control and communications package is coupled to the main weapon; a 76mm gun, as well as two 20mm cannons and four general purpose machine guns. The vessel is also equipped with configurable, serviced mission modules, with deck space to operate mission specific equipment, and to act as a mother ship for two fully independent fast pursuit Rigid Hulled Inflatable Boats (RIBs). It is designed to provide an operational capability for many years of service in the North Atlantic, its main area of operation.

Commenting on the completion and handover Babcock Shipbuilding Director, Andrew Hamilton, said: “We are delighted and proud to have successfully built, trialled and delivered this first of class OPV to the Irish Naval Service. The success of this project has been brought about by the close co-operation of our customer, suppliers and industry. LÈ Samuel Beckett demonstrates that a commercial build coupled with commercial off the shelf equipment can give a high level of capability within the budgeted cost.”

LÈ Samuel Becket is the first of two such OPVs being built by Babcock for the Irish Naval Service at Appledore (where Ireland’s current OPVs LÈ Roisin and Niamh were also built in the late 1990s - early 2000s). Keel laying for the second OPV took place in November last year, with float-up scheduled for early November 2014 and sea trials and delivery taking place in early 2015.

http://www.navyrecognition.com

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Saab signs a contract with the Irish Defence Forces to provide upgrades to Ireland’s RBS 70 air defence

Defence and security company Saab has signed a contract with the Irish Defence Forces to provide upgrades to Ireland’s RBS 70 air defence missile systems. The order has a value of approximately SEK 40 million and includes deliveries of improved firing units, new simulators, night vision equipment and associated weapons support.

Ireland has requested updates to its RBS 70 systems. This recently-signed contract provides for new operator training simulators, upgraded fire units to support the BORC night-capable sight and the latest Bolide missile, new external power supplies plus a four-year support agreement. The Irish order underlines the continuous enhancement of RBS 70 system capabilities.

“This order is very important because it demonstrates the reliability of the RBS 70 system. It is a modern and reliable system which also has a long lifespan. For the customers it is a great advantage that the system can be upgraded for future use,” says Rickard Svensson, Director Marketing and Sales, Saab´s Market Area Western Europe.

Deliveries will be made during 2015.

The Saab portfolio of short-range ground-based air defence missile systems includes the RBS 70 and the further enhanced RBS 70 NG. With the RBS 70 family, Saab offers state-of-the art systems for demanding customers investing in the future. The RBS 70 system has an impressive track-record in the market with more than 1,600 launchers and over 17,000 missiles delivered to 19 countries.

http://www.saabgroup.com

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rish Defence Forces

UNIFIL OPS-007

Tpr Hooper from 2 Cav, currently 6 Ptn, B Coy and Cpl Dec Ryan from No. 4 Ops Wing, Air Corps currently 6 Pltn, B Coy in the back of the
MOWAG MRV. Trpr Barry is at the weapons station where he can operate the weapon and it's advanced optics from the safety of inside
the vehicle. This photo was taken during a routine patrol of the Blue Line in the vicinity of UNP 6-52.

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Citation :

Second Babcock-built Irish Naval Service Offshore Patrol Vessel launched at Appledor shipyard
The second of the Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs) being built by Babcock for the Irish Naval Service, LÉ James Joyce, was floated for the first time yesterday, at Babcock's Appledore shipyard in North Devon, marking a significant milestone in the build programme.



The second of the Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs) being built by Babcock for the Irish Naval Service, LÉ James Joyce, was floated for the first time yesterday, at Babcock's Appledore shipyard in North Devon, marking a significant milestone in the build programme.

The propulsion system utilises a diesel electric drive system providing a loiter function of up to 6 knots. A comprehensive command, control and communications package is coupled to the main weapon; a 76mm gun, as well as two 20mm cannons and four general purpose machine guns. The OPV is also equipped with configurable, serviced mission modules, with deck space to operate mission specific equipment, and to act as a mother ship for two fully independent fast pursuit Rigid Hulled Inflatable Boats (RIBs). The vessel – which accommodates a crew of 44, plus ten trainee berths, to high comfort and habitability standards – is designed to provide an operational capability for many years of service in the North Atlantic, its main area of operation.

Babcock Shipbuilding Director, Andrew Hamilton, said: “We are delighted to have achieved this important and highly visible milestone to quality, budget and schedule, demonstrating our innovation and capability in this field. We will now be focusing on completion of the programme, ready for sea trials and then handover of a further highly capable OPV to the Irish Naval Service on-time and in-budget in early 2015. Work is also now underway on the third OPV, with first steel cut in September this year and keel laying scheduled for April 2015.”

LÉ James Joyce will join LÉ Samuel Becket, now operational following delivery by Babcock to the Irish Naval Service earlier this year. The OPVs will undertake a range of duties including fishery protection, search and rescue, anti-pollution and maritime security duties, including vessel boardings.

Babcock was awarded the contract to build the two OPVs by Ireland’s Department of Defence in 2010, with the option to build a third being confirmed in June this year for delivery to the Irish Naval Service in summer 2016.

http://www.navyrecognition.com

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Irish Defence Forces  

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reland to strengthen its Defence Forces with new White Paper on Defence

The Irish government announced Wednesday that it will launch a new White Paper on Defence. According to the Irish Defence Ministry, upgraded equipment will be provided for Irish defence forces including the Army, Naval Service and Air Corps. This includes new aircrafts, naval ships and armoured personnel carriers.


The White Paper, which outlines the Irish defence strategy for the next ten years, was published today.

The plan also commits to doubling the number of women in the Irish Defence Forces, increasing the strength of the Army Ranger wing and establishing new units to travel to conflict zones where gender-based violence is part of warfare.

In addition, the document contains a play to create employment for young people from disadvantaged areas, as well as containing plans for the building of an Institute of Peace and Support and Leadership Training at the Curragh. The plan also aims to double the number of women in the army.

It includes a plan to develop specialist units in conjunction with gardaí to work in countries where gender based violence such as rape and physical and sexual intimidation are used as weapons of warfare.

The document will set out how expenditure will be spend on defense and how it will expand over time.

Minister for Defence Simon Coveney believes that we have been under-investing in defensive security for far to long and its time for a change. Ireland's expenditure in this area is the second lowest in Europe.

In commenting on future capability requirements the Minister said “The White Paper sets out the roles that Government have assigned to the Defence Forces and considers associated capability requirements. It sets out decisions on the replacement of major equipment platforms for the next decade and other priorities for the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service. This will guide long term defence planning.”

Mr Coveney said Ireland now faces much more complex defence challenges than in previous times, such as international terrorism, radicalisation, mass migration internationally, cyber security and the threats of rapidly changing technologies.

"Traditionally Ireland has taken a view that everybody likes the Irish, so therefore there's no military threat to Ireland.




"And I think traditionally, our focus on defence has been related to Northern Ireland and the troubles there and international peace keeping.


http://www.armyrecognition.com/august_2015_global_defense_security_news_uk/ireland_to_strengthen_its_defence_forces_with_new_white_paper_on_defence_22808154.html

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Après les attentats de Paris, bientôt des soldats allemands et irlandais au Mali ?
18 novembre 2015 à 20h11


http://www.jeuneafrique.com/279815/politique/apres-attentats-de-paris-bientot-soldats-allemands-irlandais-mali/

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55th Infantry Group, UNDOF, MRE

The 55th Infantry Group are entering their final phase of three months of intensive training in preparation for their forthcoming deployment to the United Nations Disengagement Observation Forces (UNDOF) in early April.

The Mission Readiness Exercise puts commanders and soldiers through a series of demanding scenarios based on potential threats that may be encountered in the mission area. Troops will be asked to secure, extract and evacuate personnel involved in a complex attack.

Auteur : Irish Defence Forces  

 

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60mm and 81mm Mortar Shoot by Irish Defence Forces

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56 Infantry Group Complete Mission Readiness Exercise

Defence Forces Conduct Mission Readiness Exercise in Preparation for UNDOF (Golan Heights) Deployment

Auteur : Irish Defence Forces

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Citation :

16/01/2018

L’Irish Air Corps opte pour le Pilatus PC-12NG « Spectre » !



L'Irish Air Corps va remplacer sa flotte de vieux avions utilitaires Cessna FR172H par un trio de Pilatus PC-12NG « Spectre». Le département irlandais de la défense confirme que le PC-12NG au standard « Spectre » sera équipé pour le renseignement, la surveillance, l'acquisition et la reconnaissance de cibles, le soutien logistique et le transport, ainsi que les missions d'évacuation médicale et d'ambulance aérienne.

Les deux premiers avions seront livrés en 2019, et le troisième en 2020." Les PC-12NG seront exploités à partir de l'aérodrome de Casement Baldonnel près de Dublin.

Le Pilatus PC-12 «Next Generation» :

Le PC-12 «Next Generation» offre nombres d'améliorations significatives par rapport à son prédécesseur, il intègre une avionique Honeywell Primus Apex qui s’intègre dans un tout nouveau cockpit conçu par BMW Group Designworks USA, doté d’une plus puissante turbine Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A. Le PC-12 offre une plus grande rentabilité pour ses opérateurs, ainsi, qu’une plus grande fiabilité pour répondre à des besoins de transport dans une économie toujours plus exigeante. Les PC-12 équipent non seulement de nombreuses sociétés de transport d’affaires, mais également les «Flying Doctors of Australia» et plusieurs sociétés d’ambulance notamment au Canada, les «Smokejumper» (pompiers volants) aux USA, ainsi que diverse Forces de police et récemment la Force aérienne Finlandaise, sans oublier l'US Air Force.

La version PC-12NG « Spectre » est une adaptation du PC-12 pour les missions spéciales de reconnaissances à l’aide d’une caméra FLIR et de différenrts capteurs électronique. Il peut selon les besoins du client emporter des équipements d’écoute électronique et radio. Au sein de l’US Air Force le PC-12 « Spectre » est dénommé U-28A « Eagle ».



Photos : 1 PC-12 Spectre/Eagle @ Pilatus 2 U-28A « Eagle » USAF@ Marty Gleason

http://psk.blog.24heures.ch/archive/2018/01/16/l-irish-air-corp-opte-pour-le-pilatus-pc-12ng-spectre-865032.html

"EC135"

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Irish Air Corps  

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Ireland Orders RBS-70 BOLIDE Missiles from Saab

02:07 PM, December 13, 2018

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RBS 70


Ireland has ordered RBS 70 short-range anti-aircraft missile from Saab. The order contains the BOLIDE missile, which is latest missile available for the RBS 70 system.

RBS 70 is a Man-Portable Air-Defense System (MANPADS) designed for anti-aircraft warfare in all climate zones and with little to no support from other forces. The RBS 70 is a Short-range Air Defense (SHORAD) laser guided missile system.

Mk 1 and Mk 2 followed shortly and are the standard RBS 70 with a range of 5,000–6,000 m and a ceiling of 3,000 m. Currently, RBS 70 is operational in 18 customer countries, on all continents and in arctic, desert, and tropical environments.

In 2003 the "BOLIDE" upgrade system was introduced to the RBS 70. The BOLIDE missile is an RBS 70 Mk 2 upgrade that is faster (Mach 2 vs Mach 1.6), with a range up to 8 km (5.0 mi) and can reach an altitude of 5 km. Deliveries were initiated in 2005

http://www.defenseworld.net/news/23875/Ireland_Orders_RBS_70_BOLIDE_Missiles_from_Saab#.XBK2SKbbLIU