RAF Lossiemouth recently hosted the Irish Air Corps (IAC) to discuss strengthening maritime Search and Rescue (SAR) cooperation between the two air forces.
This visit marked the first time an Irish Air Corps maritime patrol aircraft, the recently procured CASA C295, was displayed at an RAF station, coinciding with RAF Lossiemouth’s friends and families day.
The IAC has procured three C295 aircraft for maritime patrol operations. During the visit, personnel from the IAC’s 101 Squadron engaged with RAF’s 201 Squadron to explore increased SAR cooperation.
The RAF Lossiemouth’s P-8A Poseidon fleet often supports HM Coastguard’s SAR missions, making these discussions timely and crucial.
“We were delighted to welcome 101 Squadron Irish Air Corps to RAF Lossiemouth and to see a CASA C295 aircraft here for the very first time, symbolically displayed alongside one of our P-8A Poseidons,” said Wing Commander Robert McCartney, Officer Commanding 201 Squadron.
“The north Atlantic is one of the most challenging seas in the world, and the responsibility of rescuing stricken mariners from it is a shared one. We look forward to working with the Irish Air Corps over the coming years, as we seek to strengthen our search and rescue cooperation, and make this part of the ocean safer.”
This collaboration is part of a broader effort between the IAC and RAF to cooperate in areas of mutual interest. Commandant Ken Byrne of 101 Squadron, Irish Air Corps, noted, “Increased cooperation between the Irish Air Corps and the Royal Air Force will mean that we can bring more assets to potential major incidents in our common areas of interest, and on our shared seas. The conversations we’ve had during our visit to Lossiemouth will enable us to progress and develop a joint Search and Rescue capability.”
The visit builds on existing ties, with four IAC pilots recently graduating from the RAF’s No. 1 Flying Training School at RAF Shawbury, where they earned their helicopter pilots’ wings. Additionally, the RAF has participated in IAC celebrations in 2022 and 2023.
Well I’ve sat in an IAC AW139 Wolfhound at RAF Northolt so not strictly true about the first hosting…
https://www.flickr.com/photos/nxgphotos/8563809582/
11 years ago…
I guess they might have meant the first for the 295s? Think the 235s have been over before, though the article is wrong on the numbers as well, the third 295 is a transport version, not a MPA/MSA version.
Still think the connection between the IAC and the USAF nuclear security unit is more interesting.
The IAC AW139 is a civilian version painted a shiny green and can’t be compared to the MH139a Grey Wolf.
I’m well aware of that. So are the USAF, doesn’t change the fact they have highlighted working with the AC 139 crews repeatedly in the last couple of years.
Regarding your last sentence….no mention of this in the article. What is the story?
They are moving from Heuy’s to their version of the 139 and have been working with the IAC given our use of them for everything including Special Forces, so there’s been working groups over in Dublin and in the States working with the 20th Air Force in lessons/skill transfers.
Intriguing how relationships develop, which may have a payoff in a different context,, years hence. 🤔
I honestly have no idea how that unit of the USAF ended up building a relationship with the IAC, but its been going for a couple of years now, every so often one side or the other puts up bits on social media, same as how every so often the Army posts that US Special Forces have been training in Ireland (long after they are gone of course).
Considering 10% of the USA’s population are Irish or of Irish descent, Ireland and USA have closer links than anyone else. (35,000,000 give or take)
It’s even a higher proportion in the U.K. for obvious reasons, but the Irish Air Corps isn’t exactly what you first think of when talking about the USAF nuclear response units. It’s mainly been the Army that has had closer ties with the US military, with the NS connected with the RN and the Air Corps being the one nobody cares about.
It’s approx 10% in the UK… that’s no more than 6,000,000! 35+000,000 US/Irish carries a lot of sway in the house of Representatives!
And 14 % of the population in Canada.
👍
OK, thanks.
C295 is a fantastic aircraft. Having some here would free P8 for longer range duties.
Hear hear!
A flight with some drones like the Tritons would be enough to look after the passage of Russian submarines and SAR in the UK’s immediate vicinity. Leaving the P8 to support the carriers, go to Asia and Australia, or the Falklands. Anywhere away from NW Europe.
Triton can’t fly in European airspace, why would you want buy something that’s expensive like Triton and not fit for purpose when we literally already have MQ9B that comes with ASW and maritime search capability using a British radar.
The sort of creative value for money thinking that is needed in the defence review.👍
I wonder what the lads of the 295 were thinking if they missed the free ride on the KC390 last week for this?
That is a great medium lift aircraft. The AC would do well getting a couple of those.
The Embraer is an impressive medium lift plane. It would be perfect if the IAC could pick up a couple.
They’ve been trying to get us as a customer for years now, but the usual suspects say no. I mean I could understand it when they wanted us to be the launch customer in Europe, the IAC has been burned by that too many times. But now it’s just No for the sake of No.
It boggles the mind, although I do know what you(who) are talking about for usual suspects. Several countries have put in orders for 390s and they are used by several counties air forces. Price tag is also not bad for what you get.
Embraer got a lot of attention on their visit. Hopefully it worked.
Given we are less than 4 months from the GE, and the foot dragging on the other projects nothing is likely to change, they will point to the transport model coming next year. Of course given how things are going in Lebanon we might be asking for lifts for the UNFIL ai it’s as well as civilians so it might be in the news again.
Agreed on all points.
As expected, the Examiner is reporting the 2 MPAs might be used if needed for evac, hope none of the brand new expensive equipment gets damaged pulling it out for transport duties…
Saw that coming!
Any country that has troops ( citizens) in great number overseas, needs to have a strategic airlift plan. This is not strategic nor an airlift. Even if there was a dedicated transport C295 it would not be enough.
Ireland is an island. There needs to be a proper airlift.
Are they also going to send the PC-12s?!
Pull the trigger and buy a couple of KC390s, Gov!
Yeah, between them they might lift 40-50, but there’s over 100 registered, and that of course isn’t even counting the UNFIL forces, suggestions are most of them will be removed to Cyprus if it kicks off, course no mention that requires someone else doing the lifting.
Makes you regret Bertie managing to screw up the optics so bad that the planned Airbus purchase in the 00’s never happened, let alone the fact that the AC has been trying to get some form of transport since the 90’s
The Embraers are faster and have greater range so could make quicker/multiple trips. Ireland is also duty bound to get other UNIFIL forces out too during an evac.
It’s unfortunate that a potential desperate situation may once again cause a discussion that may once again go nowhere.
Good news. Fáilte!
Today I learned Ireland has an air force. I thought they only had a couple of Cesna’s and a cargo plane.
Cooperation is always a good thing.
The only time that the Ireland of Ireland has been “united” in any meaningful sense (ie post Brian Boru) is when it was part of the United Kingdom.
My suggestion is that it should again ”Unite” and rejoin the UK. I think everyone would benefit from that arrangement. It would solve a large number of issues throughout the British Isles, including providing a greater counter weight to English dominance in the Kingdom for the Scots, and Welsh and immediately solve the border problem.
Somewhat leftfield but there we go.
Low level trolling, should try better.
He nearly had me reacting but you’re right, worthless trolling in an otherwise interesting discussion.
Maybe some day we’ll save up enough for a few Grippens for chasing Bears. It would be good to play our part an not be dependent on neighbours.
I wouldn’t be too hard on yourself Mark.
Considering how it worked before I don’t think so…. unless the royals go and London swears an oath of loyalty to the heroes of ’16
The bigger picture here is that Ireland is prepping to militarily work with the UK defense.
Now let them pay their fair share (2%) for defense!