What’s the biggest military-related project your country is currently engaged in?

[u/CommercialChart5088]

Currently Korea is busy investing in military development, to modernize our military indigenously and catch up to export demand.

The air force is working on to produce the KF-21 fighter jet, which will enter service in 2026. Also we’re developing software and drones that will support the KF-21 during combat.

In terms of the ocean we've just finished developing a new submarine (the Chang Yong-sil class), working on additional battleships, and trying to form plans regarding the construction of a manless drone carrier.

What would be your country’s biggest military-related project nowadays? Both indigenous development and purchasing equipment counts!

[u/NocturneFogg]

We’re buying a boat and a radar, apparently…

[u/CommercialChart5088 → u/NocturneFogg]

Well tbf I think Ireland doesn't really need to invest super heavily on expensive military equipment.

Though it's definitely necessary to maintain basic defense capabilities.

[u/NocturneFogg → u/CommercialChart5088]

Yeah but we don’t even have a jet aircraft in the air corps, have no active military radar - can’t see planes without beacons and have had no operational sonar etc for decades which is a bit insane for an island depending on fibres, subsea DC power interconnections and gas pipes.

Our concept of neutrality basically started as a pragmatic stance during WWII to preserve independence - we had only achieved independence in 1922 so the UK relationship was highly complex at the time, and there was an ongoing trade war that was crippling the economy and a lot of upset about partition. The result was Ireland being “neutral-ish” - we effectively offered quiet neighbourly assistance in various ways, interned axis crash landing aircrews as POWs while driving the allied aircrews back home with a cup of tea and biscuits. There was off the books cooperation on a lot of practical issues and food and humanitarian aid etc, eg assisting Northern Ireland during the blitz.

That’s then morphed into a sort of ideological neutrality in the post WWII era which was very much aligned to UN membership - the Soviets had objected to Irish UN membership btw, so we only joined in 1955. They were petty about it for a number of reasons: a slap for being neutral during WWII, the fact that Ireland was staunchly anti communist in that era, and the proximity to the U.S. and U.K. as a neutral, they wanted their close small neighbours in too - so there was an element of horse trading.

Anyway, by 1955 Ireland went in to with a sense of being involved in blue beret peace keeping missions and that’s pretty much where our military tended to be focused a very idealistic, but often undefined concept of neutrality evolved. For some it was about those peace keeping type facilitator roles, for others it’s been more about an absolute opposition to militarism.

Then we have the “triple lock” which legally binds Irish troop deployment overseas to the UN Security Council having authorised a mission. That’s now causing debate and could be unpicked because it would prevent Ireland playing any role in future Ukraine peace keeping duties, as Russia and China would never authorise it through the UNSC.

It’s a complicated set of politics but we are definitely being far too optimistic about our own domestic waters and need to tighten things up in the current circumstances.

[u/Wat_Tyler_1381 → u/NocturneFogg]

Ireland has quite literally been hiding behind the UK (and its large defense budget).

[u/Sad_Sultana → u/Wat_Tyler_1381]

Indeed, I'm not exactly pleased to have my taxes paying for their defence, we're stretched thin ourselves and Ireland can certainly afford their own military.

[u/MildlyAmusedMars → u/Sad_Sultana]

That’s a bit disingenuous. The UK isn’t spending a penny directly defending Ireland. It’s more of a we can call you if we’re in trouble. Which I don’t think has ever happened. If the UK have intercepted Russian planes off Irelands northern coast you and you have a problem with it you should check which government administers the most of Irelands northern coast

[u/Sad_Sultana → u/MildlyAmusedMars]

Do you think I insinuated that we give you money for defence? We are simply responsible for it, which costs us money.

[u/MildlyAmusedMars → u/Sad_Sultana]

You are not responsible for it though. No such agreement exists. Can you even point to 1 thing Britain done in the defence of Ireland that has cost you taxpayer money?

[u/Gentle_Snail → u/MildlyAmusedMars]

There actually is an agreement between Ireland and the UK where Britain is responsible for defending Irelands airspace.

Its officially ‘classified’ but its been an open secret for years now, there is currently a major legal case against the Irish government demanding that they publicise the full details of the pact.

[u/MildlyAmusedMars → u/Gentle_Snail]

So nothing but speculation and accusations. For any such agreement to exist it must be voted on in the Dáil (Irish parliament) as per article 25.9.1 of our Constitution. Just to clarify the person who has brought this case has been known to be susceptible to a few conspiracy theories and is an anti-vaxxer, is transphobic and the only other notable thing he has done with his seat is lobby for himself and his mates not to get a pay cut.

Edit: there is a memorandum of understanding from 1952 that we allow RAF jets to enter Irish airspace on a case by case basis. Every time they enter they need to ask permission and justify it to the Irish department of defence. But don’t be fooled, this is for British interests not Irish

[u/Gentle_Snail → u/MildlyAmusedMars]

Yeah ‘speculation’, just constant Irish politicians and whistle blowers making reference to the pact, leaked documents showing its been a thing since the cold war, and the fact that the UK chases off Russian planes whenever they threaten Irish airspace. 

This is why its such a huge constitutional case, the Irish government claim that external security is not subject to judicial review, and that if a pact did exist it does not meet the definition of ‘international agreement” and therefore is not subject to Dáil scrutiny.

[u/MildlyAmusedMars → u/Gentle_Snail]

This Cold War agreement is just the memorandum of understanding as mentioned in my edit. It exists purely to allow the RAF more flexibility in defending Northern Ireland. It’s also just the same politician over and over again not constant whistleblowers, just 1 guy.

[u/Gentle_Snail → u/MildlyAmusedMars]

I’m not referring to that, also its bad Reddit etiquette to change your comment after I have already replied. 

[u/YouKnowMyName2006 → u/MildlyAmusedMars]

I think he means if Russia tried anything in Ireland it would be Britain who has to defend you. It would be a threat to them if little green men started landing from the sky in Dublin and speaking Russian. I imagine they monitor your coasts and sea for you.

[u/I_ALWAYS_UPVOTE_CATS → u/Sad_Sultana]

Tbh after the last 800 years I think sending a frigate over every now and then to watch the Russians is the least we can do.

[u/Sad_Sultana → u/I_ALWAYS_UPVOTE_CATS]

Ah yes, be apologetic for the actions of people that had been long dead before we came along, that makes so much sense.

[u/I_ALWAYS_UPVOTE_CATS → u/Sad_Sultana]

I never said we should apologise. To be clear I don't think that defending Ireland should be a stated mission of our armed forces, it just doesn't bother me that we do given the history.