Ireland IS seperate from NATO, however Ireland is a member nation of both the UN and PfP with intentions to join NATO in the next few years. This is being met with serious opposition from various politicans within the government, mainly due to the fact that if we do join NATO the Irish Defence Spenditiure will have to be increased.
Britain does not ignore us at all in any way. The Royal Navy aids us with Coastal Defence and Fisheries Protection as well as SAR. In ’96, I believe it was the Royal Navy was requested to support Irish Navy actions against Japanese Fishermen fishing illegally in EU waters.
The British also train our Special Forces (we have a Pathfinder Squadron and an SAS style force known as Rangers – I am proud to say that I have two cousins who serve as Rangers)!
The AUG was chosen on economic grounds – it was offered cheaper than the SA80A1 and M16A2 and offered the same capabilities.
Britain does keep various Irish Regiments in its ranks such as the Irish Guards which I trained for and the Royal Irish Rangers (not to be confused with the Rangers I mentioned before)as well as the British run RUC or Royal Ulster Constabulary.
To say that Britain has nothing to do with Irelands defence is basically c*** from someone who does not understand the situation fully. The RAF provides Air Defence to the Republic due to the fact that Ireland has no fighters and relies on 65mm BOFORS AAA for air defence.
Irish troops often transfer to the British Army due to the fact that Irelands policies are based on NON-Interference unless requested by the UN…and the Irish Defence Force is quite often requested. Britains Armed Forces also offer more intense training and better prospects.

hey just looking over old threads and it is obvious not many here understand the irish defence forces at all!firstly 3years ago or whatever it was this thread was posted Ireland had no intentions of joining NATO.!why because there is no need!we dont have any enemies as such that would require us to be part of such a military club if you like!and no RAF fighters do not protect irish airspace!maybe they could request for assistance if there was a situation but they do not provide defence at all for us.also the the ADR(Air Defence Regiment)are not equipped with 65mm AAA!the ADR is equipped with 40mm EL70 Bofors anti aircraft guns which are directed by flycatcher radar,they also have are equipped with RBS70 SAMs which are guided by giraffe radar,12.5mm heavy machine guns are also used.also another point ireland trains its own rangers but they take part in training operations with foreign forces just like any other country!for more info visit http://www.irishmilitaryonline.com
http://www.irishairpics.com
http://www.military.ie and use the search functions for any specific info!

from this link it would appear that there was air to air engagements!?
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/report/1992/BRM.htm

Arthur

I do listen and i see first hand experiences i do believe them but i also see they have different accounts both agree in one fact no MiG-29`s kills, but i always said as a Westen acknowledged and video proven only one F-117 was shot down.

what i can see is there are many different accounts.

I do believe very likely there was not a MiG-29`s kill of an F-117, 100% sure well i am not only if the Serbian Ministry of Defence claims it i will totally agree there was no MiG-29`s kill of an F-117 but at least for some Historians there was an F-117 shot down by a MiG-29.

It is interesting because according to some Russian sources even TV programs there was one F-117 shot down by a MiG-29.

Of course like in any war there are disinformation exercises and denials of losses by both warring factions.

Also there is a common agreement there were more than 2 NATO aircraft shot down and around 5-3 MiG-29 lost by Serbia.

I do not think there is a total supremacy of the F-15 or F-16 over the MiG-29.

About the Iraqi MiG-29s i have read they have some kills claimed, in Cuban service they have also shot down aircraft of course civil but they have a kill any way.

Also in Russian service up to what i know.

In General i do not believe any warring faction because all exagerate and lie, a good historian must take all sources and make a general idea what did happen if he was not witness to the event.

trust one source even a witness one is also foolish because many witnesses also have different acounts even witnessing the same event.

what claims of kills do iraqi fulcrums have?who are against?iranian fighters, US drones?

an air war would be very interesting and in my opinion very unpredictable!nobody knows for sure how active the iranian air force is or what they could have ready for combat in a short period of time!how many fulcrums do they actually have?i think in AFM there was something about russia upgrading irans MiGs?i cant remember to what standard they said they are to be upgraded too?does anyone know what im talking about?

will the fulcrums be new examples fresh off the production line or will they be upgraded from existing airframes!?

why does everybody seem to think that the UK could do a better job than france!they have a much better carrier with a superior airwing which is only second to the USN and their amphibitous assault capabilities will be on par with the UK when they get their new assault ships fully operational!the airwing is arguably the most important part of the fleet as with out aircover and the threat of enemy fighters no operation can be carried out.the etentard/rafale mix is a nice blend of experience and technology and not many potential enemies can field anything capable of matching the rafale never mind beating it!thats just my opinion

the argentine pucara and pampa aswell!il post some pics later!though somebody will probably beat me to it!