A Royal Air Force P-8 Poseidon aircraft was urgently deployed to aid in a maritime rescue operation off the coast of Cork yesterday, due to the unavailability of suitable Irish aircraft.

It has been claimed in a report by TheJournal.ie, that the Irish Coast Guard initially considered requesting the Irish Defence Forces to dispatch an Irish Air Corps aircraft for the winching operation.

However, the new Airbus C295 aircraft, recently added to the Irish fleet, was unavailable. In light of this, the Coast Guard turned to the UK military for assistance.

A spokesperson from the Irish Coast Guard confirmed the operation, stating, “Early on Thursday morning, the Marine Rescue Sub Centre (MRSC) Valentia received a call from a Danish flagged oil tanker approximately 345 miles west of Valentia, reporting a medical issue with a crew member onboard. Medical advice was provided by the Danish Maritime Telemedical Assistance Service with a recommendation that the crew member be evacuated once the vessel was within range of the Irish coast.”

They added, “MRSC Valentia [in Kerry] assumed coordination of the incident while working closely with UK & Danish Coastguard colleagues and continued to monitor the vessel and patient on approach. At around 4 AM this morning, the Irish Coast Guard Waterford based helicopter R117 arrived on scene accompanied by an RAF Poseidon aircraft for top cover, and successfully winched the casualty for onward transfer to Cork Airport and Cork University Hospital.”

The Coast Guard Rescue Coordination Centre in Valentia managed the response, initially deploying a helicopter to the scene, according to local reports.

Due to adverse weather conditions and the unavailability of Irish aircraft, the RAF P-8 Poseidon, with tail number ZP803, was dispatched, taking off at 2:30 AM and returning at 9:00 AM, crossing Irish airspace to reach the distressed vessel.

Commenting on the situation, a maritime and aviation security expert told the UK Defence Journal, “Their only MPA aircraft being unavailable and unable to support a search and rescue task speaks to how seriously they take their security. When it comes to recent suspected submarine activity, they are completely blind and unable to even monitor it.”

George Allison
George Allison
George has a degree in Cyber Security from Glasgow Caledonian University and has a keen interest in naval and cyber security matters and has appeared on national radio and television to discuss current events. George is on Twitter at @geoallison
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80 COMMENTS

  1. Hmm, has the contract passed over to Bistrow yet? Cause the contract made it clear that they were to provide Top Cover with their own dedicated aircraft, but CHC is being an arse about the handover so who knows.

  3. Do we need to do everything for Ireland? They are not a poor country but are saving money by getting the UK to do everything for them…

    It is about time they took responsibility for their territory. I do not know of any other country that has its air defence done by another country… that is not a dependant territory.

    • In these sorts of situations you just have to help by providing whatever is required. The UK was able to provide this support at the appropriate time. Well done the RAF.

      • Yes, 100%. Ireland has historically provided air and fisheries cover in the Irish sea for the UK. So, it’s only fair we provide some in return.

    • And the AC does firefighting airdrops over NI whenever its requested without comment, but I guess that doesn’t matter? Maybe the RAF/contractors should cover that?

      The Coastguard contract is passing from CHC to Bistrow and the new one has Bistrow providing top cover like this, but so far they haven’t stood up their fixed wing support, and CHC is doing a Scorched Earth policy since they lost, so its a bit of a private company shit show.

      Also, SAR isn’t a defence area, the complaint goes to Transport.

    • The US does air defense for Canada, even in Canadian airspace, the same occurs with Australia and NZ. There seems to be lots of ‘little brother’ freeloading in the anglosphere.

      • You are wrong on both counts. In both cases they are collaborative efforts. Take the US Canada model. That comes under the Umbrella of NORAD a joint organisation staffed by US and Canada. NORAD can task assets from both countries as they see appropriate.

      • So providing support and assistance (especially when it suits both countries) is now “free-loading”?

      • You are incorrect on that statement about air cover for Canada and freeloading. The RCAF is a fully functional Air Force and very active partner in NORAD for continental air surveillance.

        Canada routinely stations alert CF-18s in Alaska.

    • I live in n.ireland and the Irish coastguard helps all the time when required over here.. in 30 years I’ve never seen a red and white sar heli with hm coastguard it’s always Irish coastguard

  4. It’s good to see neighbours helping when needed. It’s about the safety of people at the end of the day. Good on you guys.

  5. As an Irish neighbour (and British taxpayer) I certainly support and applaud any efforts employing our UK military or naval assets to assist Ireland, such as in this case.

    That said, it has been a truism for many decades that the Republic of Ireland has largely shirked own its responsibilities in providing for its own and collective defenses by persistently refusing to spend at a level that would mostly limit their need to depend on others … and thus create the appearance that they are willing participants in the full and realistic cost of their own defence.

    As it is, getting a ‘free ride’ on the back of the US, UK, NATO or any other entity isn’t the same as meaningfully carrying your own load. No amount of cheap talk is going to change that.

    • We have more than one, however they are both only going through IOC after arriving last year, and the 235s pretty much died after being flown so hard.

      • The world has changed since these C-295s were ordered 4 years ago as well. Fishery protection and general surveillance that these planes provide is not going to cut it for Ireland considering the Nord Stream incident.

        • Don’t disagree with you a bit, but trying to get the departments and ministers to consider anything is the issue of course.

          • Maybe the third plane ordered can be a a MPA. Modify the contract. I know… wishful thinking. 😉

          • Purchasing 2 or 3 jet planes for ministerial and troop transport, which I know the gov and AC is looking into, could fill that void.

          • Nah, the Government request is for about 12 people, there’s little crossover into something that would be capable for transport, even the 295 transport would be better.

    • They have several. Currently being acceptance tested. Remember, the Irish air corp provided fisheries support and protection for the UK when our own aircraft were unavailable.

  7. Surprised on first seeing saving lives at sea tv show the RNLI with English flag is operating out of Ireland, quite merrily. Ireland would need to swallow joint operations with UK or France???

    • The RNLI is a legacy from pre independence which everyone was happy to leave continue to operate (though there are issues around fundraising and governance), but it’s basically a detached section with little interconnection with the U.K. version.

    • Morning Simon. The St. George’s type Flag(as it is referred to in Flag speak) is broadly used in different configurations in many parts of the world-not always necessarily specifically related to the English usuage. In Red and White it is seen in the Flag of Georgia, certain Italian City Flags and is still used in many Commonwealth Naval Ensigns. Here in South Africa our Navy uses a St George’s type flag but in Green on a white background with the National Flag in the 1st canton. Our equivalent to the RNLI, the NSRI has a similar flag to the RNLI but with an Orange cross on white(although lately I have seen one in Red on white!!) In Ireland both Nationalists and Unionists use the St George type Flag-the Flag of the Ulster province in the Nationalist tradition is a Red Cross on a yellow background whereas the Unionist version is a St George’s Cross-both have the Red Hand of Ulster centred on the Cross. In addition, the St Patricks Cross can still be seen in the ROI at the College of Surgeons in Dublin and in other capacities although it was once described by one Irish patriot who was not a fan as the Bloody Cross of St. Andrew in the colours of England!!

      God Save Ireland and God Save the King!!

    • It’s standard for the coast guard, either other coastguard helicopters provide it (how R118 was lost), or whatever the AC has available (which is a bit of a usual cluster between Transport and Defence), as I said Bistrow in the new contract is supposed to be providing its own fixed wing asset for the job, but CHC are trying everything to stop it.

    • It is necessary when a Helicopter is making a long range rescue at sea, there is a risk that the Helicopter could suffer a technical failure and crash far away from help. The fixed wing patrol aircraft will stay on station coordinating rescue efforts of the helicopter crew, it can also drop a UNIPAC-III search and rescue kit carried in the bomb bay which contains a 20 man dinghy, water, food and communication equipment. Irish C-295 MPA have a similar capability but if they are unavailable the RAF can step in with the P-8a or the A400M which also has the capability to deploy a rescue kit.

      • Normally the coastguard handle it with one of the other 92s, but for some reason didn’t this time.

    • Thanks guys for explaining. Makes sense now. I had strange visions of the Red Baron swooping down trying to splash the helo!

  9. Hi folks hope all is well.
    Well done to all that took part in the operation.
    Over recent months there appears to be more activity involving Russia’s navy off the coast of Ireland. And once again the UK is deployed to monitor Russian activities. The time has come for the Republic of Ireland steps up in it’s own defense requirements rather than freeloading from others. There’s an interesting article in the Telegraph about this very issue.
    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/06/04/nato-sea-power-cui-russian-submarines-ireland-eu/

    Cheers
    George

  10. The anonymous expert should bear in mind that the UK was itself dependent on allies for maritime patrol/surveillance between 2011 and 2020…

    • Or as I have pointed out the fact that NI calls on AC helicopters for firefighting in the summer, or more broadly is supported by Irish medical units when NHS NI is stuck.

        • While there’s always crossover at the border for emergencies, it’s mainly the other way around given the state of NI NHS. Dublin funded the upgrade to Derrys main hospital for cancer treatment, major children’s surgeries are done in Dublin not Belfast, and there’s been entire months in the past when HSE ambulance crews have operated to cover the gaps in numbers in the North.

          Not too mention that a chunk of NI NHS staff now do shifts in the Republic as the pay is so much better than in NI.

    • What’s really important is we all work together. Could Ireland do with more defence assets. Of course. The same is said about the U.K.
      Really Ireland faces little to no threats. They could do with air policing aircraft, more surveillance aircraft and getting the navy in better shape.
      Keeping an eye on the undersea infrastructure is also an area Ireland needs to take seriously.

    • This expert also should know that Ireland has updated its partnership agreement with NATO on assistance with air/Naval/subsea assistance just recently. The details of this updated agreement are not fully known but is a step in the right direction.

  12. Nothing new here, people requiring help then anyone who is available will help. The white elephant is the lack of MPA cover, which is nothing new to Ireland, 2 x 295’s is not enough for the area Ireland has to cover.

  13. I think we should set up joints air force just for protection full of British isles operating as QRA and AShW & ASuW patrol if it can work?’

    Raf fly for them and increase order P8 extra 2 and Sea guardian “RAF protector” Drone? 4 of them And Wedgetails extra 2, lend them old T1 12, 4 ;A400M as it multi-purpose drop asw weapon and refuel, recuse part etc just for small number air force to help each other? Operate at Ireland land and Ireland help pay half each other. Until they able get it and give them full back or carry as it is will be good security for UK and Ireland long term?

    Maybe it is far-fetched idea

  14. This was a humanitarian mission, saving lives, not hunting Russian subs in Irish waters.
    A previous commentator has already stated the Irish Coast Guard operate in Northern Irish waters & I suspect the Irish Air Corps would happily deploy a C295 if requested by H.M. Coastguard to assist in UK waters.

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