Interceptors for Ireland

[Archibald]

F-35 is totally overkill for Ireland, Rafale & Typhoon are big and expensive, maybe Gripen is the way to go ?

 

[GTX]

F-35 is totally overkill for Ireland, Rafale & Typhoon are big and expensive, maybe Gripen is the way to go ?

Even Gripen is potential overkill for the perceived mission/requirement. F/T-50 maybe or even simpler?

 

[Scott Kenny]

Even Gripen is potential overkill for the perceived mission/requirement. F/T-50 maybe or even simpler?

Needs missiles with a large warhead to address bomber- or hijacked airliner-sized airframes. Which means radar-guided BVRAAMs, and engaging close enough that the rocket motor adds to the boom.

Plus, the North Atlantic weather means you need a good radar.

I think the M346 can handle AMRAAMs (No it cannot, yet), the FA50 can. I don't believe that the T-7 can.

Think the ROCAF would be willing to sell any of their old F-CK-1s?

 

[Ainen]

Needs missiles with a large warhead to address bomber- or hijacked airliner-sized airframes. Which means radar-guided BVRAAMs, and engaging close enough that the rocket motor adds to the boom.

Sidewinder will do it just fine, this is a very overstretched requirement.

 

[Scott Kenny]

Sidewinder will do it just fine, this is a very overstretched requirement.

Disagree, a Sidewinder will not do catastrophic damage to the wing if it impacts a podded engine.

 

[starviking]

That Is true but with what Irish Need depends on the envelope they can fly in, if they Need longer range Eurofighter could be beneficial, however a Gripen with droptanks and maybe tanker support can also do the job, It boils down to cost a lot more for them than other nations i would argue

Tankers are not only going to be an additional expenditure, but add an expensive training need for both the tanker AND fighter pilots. Tankers are also not going to get utilized so much, but will have to be on standby depending on how an investigation/intercept flight goes.

The IAC is going to have their hands full standing up a fighter capability - tankers are a step too far.

 

[Ainen]

Disagree, a Sidewinder will not do catastrophic damage to the wing if it impacts a podded engine.

Launch another one.
Big planes sometimes survive big non-contact explosions, but it happens with larger warheads as well.

Justifying amraam by requiring some factual air combat capability and/or better all weather intercept is one thing.

Justifying it to better shoot down airliners is bad pitch - it isn't a good goal to push, and they aren't that much better at it.

If you absolutely need a kill and nothing works, make a gun pass.

 

[Archibald]

Launch another one.
Big planes sometimes survive big non-contact explosions, but it happens with larger warheads as well.

Justifying amraam by requiring some factual air combat capability and/or better all weather intercept is one thing.

Justifying it to better shoot down airliners is bad pitch - it isn't a good goal to push, and they aren't that much better at it.

If you absolutely need a kill and nothing works, make a gun pass.

Reminds me of that crazy event, in 1972.

1972 Moroccan coup attempt - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[Scott Kenny]

Launch another one.
Big planes sometimes survive big non-contact explosions, but it happens with larger warheads as well.

Justifying amraam by requiring some factual air combat capability and/or better all weather intercept is one thing.

You mean the ability to shoot down a bomber? Or airliner-derived MPA armed with (insert weapons here)?

 

[Ainen]

You mean the ability to shoot down a bomber? Or airliner-derived MPA armed with (insert weapons here)?

Ireland asks at best for an affordable solution to airspace control, and even pushing money for that (against more necessary stuff) is not exactly guaranteed.

You're asking for impossible things. In peacetime there's no difference, sidewinder will shoot down even b-21 no problem.
In wartime conditions, Ireland can't achieve that, and doesn't need that.