Republic has ordered anti-tank missile system from arms firm
national |
anti-war / imperialism |
news report 
Thursday January 08, 2004 05:11
by Republic has ordered anti-tank missile system from arms firm
Republic has ordered anti-tank missile system from arms firm
The Department of Defence has confirmed that it has ordered an advanced anti-tank missile system for delivery in the next few months from a US joint venture between the raytheon and Lockheed Martin companies.
raytheon Lockheed Martin issued a statement yesterday highlighting the deal following demands from Derry City Council that raytheon assure them that its plant in Derry is not involved in the production of any form of military hardware or software. There were also protests in Derry's Guildhall Square yesterday by anti-war activists.
At a special meeting last night, the council decided to write to raytheon after councillors had received a dossier from the Foyle Ethical Investment Campaign which alleges that the plant was involved in weapons- related production.
A spokesperson for raytheon, which declined the council's invitation to attend the meeting, said their Derry workforce of 35 was involved "solely in software development for civilian air- traffic control".
The Government's order for an anti-tank missile system was made last year but was not announced at the time. However details of the order have been published in other publications, including Jane's Defence Weekly.
The system, called Javelin, will replace the Milan anti-tank missile system which has been in use by the Defence Forces for 25 years. While the existing system has been used for training purposes, it has never been deployed abroad with any peacekeeping missions engaged in by the Defence Forces.
A Department of Defence spokesman said last night the new system is designed to be used both for training and for peace enforcement missions. A Defence Forces spokesman said that while the existing Milan system uses missiles must be guided throughout their flight to their target, the new system will involve what are known as "fire-and-forget" missiles which, once launched, will guide themselves to their target.
According to a statement from raytheon/Lockheed Martin yesterday, the Irish order is worth $12.5 million (€9.9 million).
The initial order is for 10 firing posts, but the Defence Forces spokesman could not say last night how many missiles would be involved.
The US joint venture, which is based in Bethesda, Maryland, said yesterday that the missile system "is the world's first one man-transportable and employable fire-and-forget anti-armor missile system".
The company said Ireland's choice of this system "marks the raytheon/Lockheed Martin Javelin Joint Venture's first sale to a neutral, non-aligned nation that has actively supported numerous UN peacekeeping operations throughout the world".
Comments (16 of 16)
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Unfortunate headline. I mean, would there be any other class of
firm that sells anti-tank missile systems?!
?
Would have been in "War Of Independence". It may have been when the Brits brought a tank into Croke Park on Bloody Sunday to mach inegun the spectators and players. That was also the last time a Union Jack flew in Croke Park. But there are now those who want the English Soccer team to play there so they will have the Union Jack flying there again.
Or is it a cut and paste from some other source? If it's a cut and paste then please just write a summary and provide a link to the original. Cut and pastes are deleted by policy on indymedia.ie. At the very least give credit to the author(s). R Isible
€10 Million being spent so that the boys in the Curragh have a new toy to play with.
Meanwhile, on the other side of town...
WCA Poster
Yeah, I read the article in todays Irish Times. Found it a bit confusing. It reads like its suffered from some editorial meddling. The article is credited to two authors - two stories crammed into one.
The headline refers to the IRL govt. 9.9m euro order for anti-tank misssiles from Bethesda, Maryland, US
The other (original) story concerns the Derry plant itself which a company spokesperson claims is "solely in software development for civilian air-traffic control".
This 'second' story warrants further investigation.
Maybe in relation to-
£127 Radar Deal Launches
http://www.indymedia.ie/newswire.php?story_id=62235
Irish Air Traffic Controllers (ATC) were recently 'forced' into joining a consortium to run both the Irish and British ATC. From what I understand it was a case of 'buy' or be 'bought out' .
This relates to future plans for a Single European Sky.
It raises questions about the blurring of the lines between civilian services and the military , the type of blurring we're been forced to become familiar with here in Ireland.
There's a lot of questions 'up in the air' - just don't expect them to be answered in the Irish Times.
We wouldn't want to put business and Irish jobs in jeopardy now would we ?
10 million for a system that will never be used.Could have gone to the former Sov block and bought triple that amount of anti tank busting equipment for that money.
Well actually the Croke Park massacre, did not involve a tank, nor did it involve an armoured car. Basically the Black and Tans arrived in their cars and opened fire on the supporters and the players. The movie admits they took a bit of a liberty with the truth with regards teh armoured car going onto the pitch.
The Javelin is a very good anti-tank system and will add something much needed to the Irish Armed Forces. Our troops need to know how to use these things in case we ever need to use em. You never know what might be around the corner and having troops who know they can use, might save lives. The Russian systems, like the Kornet, are aged and won't work that well against the modern MBTs and so you might as well put the money into the better more up to date system. More bang for your buck.
of COURSE an anti-tank system is necessary.
I mean, 20 years ago, Saddam and george bush snr were buddies.
who's to say who's next?
Its about time we had an army capable of defending this fair isle against the invasion of our soil by american military agressors,which occurs almost daily in shannon.
When the new world order happens,and it will,ireland would be considered a soft target for a us invasion of europe,which is face it becoming sick of its imperialism and economic war.
Its not a fantasy. The US hates france..look at the amount of movies where the bad guy is a frenchman. The Euro is gaining ground every day against the dollar as the US becomes a banana dictatorship. If things get tough,and the US desires a foothold against its next "enemy" of course Ireland is the obvious target. It already controls Britain..
We need a strong well armed force to blow them all away when they arrive....
In the 80s saddam was the friend,iran was the enemy,france was the friend,ghaddafi was the enemy,canada was the friend,russia was the enemy..
in the 90s,they searched the world for a new enemy
Today saddam is the enemy,iran is the friend
france is "unfriendly",ghaddafi is "friendly"
canada is not in the coilition of the willing,russia.....well we dont really know...
Fight the Yankee Imperialist Now....or dont blame me when the tanks come rolling down o connell st
We would be much better off if Ireland was the 51st state. Up the Yanks
Pat, You're trying to give wet dreams to lone gunman and drbinoche. They would love to have the 'Right To Keep And Bear Arms'.
Anyway, thanks for your comprehensive analysis of Ireland's relationship with the USA. I hope writing it did not exhaust your imagination or your linguistic abilities.
The anti-tank system would be of little use in the case of a US invasion .....
In the first place, before any engagements on the ground, they would bomb the f**k out of the place (look at Serbia, Iraq ....) .....
The anti-tank system probably would not survive such an attack (given that its location is likely to be known via intelligence channels and other surveillance) ......
In the - currently hypothetical - case of such an invasion, the only hope of the Irish would be to fall back on that which they have proven themselves to be good at, namely guerilla warfare .....
For that kind of stuff, a sophisticated high-tech system is useless (easy to locate and detect and hence "neutralize"). What you need is a large well-distributed supply of relatively low-tech hand-operated anti-tank weapons (i.e. bazooka-type weapons) for local engagements (ambushes etc.) .....
Remember if you are planning to take on the "big boys" don't play according to their rules .....................
You can be almost 100% sure that whenever they sell you a sophisticated high-tech system, they also have the means to detect and neutralise it in case you would ever try to use it against them.
Leonard, where di you get this idea that I want Ireland to become a part of America. Ill tell you now, that it is not true, I don't think Ireland should belong to anything bar the EU. We would not benefit at all from American status. I just think that you guys hate America so much that it is now like an insult to call some pro-american. So in other words, because the leaders of one nation are shit, the whole nation sucks. Well then Ireland sucks. We voted them in and they are raping us really badly. So by your own twisted view, we all suck and we are all shit. Including you.
Look either way, America has done good in the past, FACT. America has done bad in the past, FACT. Saddam Hussein was captured, FACT. Iraq is rid of Saddams Regime, FACT. Under 10000 Iraqis died, FACT. The way you guys say it, all of the above FACTS are irrelevant or lies. Try to dsipute any of the facts and you show yourselves to be nothing but moany pissants.
The US Congress has been told of the possible sale of a sophisticated 26m euro misssile system to Ireland
The US made Javelin missile is in the running to become the Army's new anti-tank system.
Request
The US Defence Security Co -operation Agency told Congress last year that the Irish Government had requested a posssible sale of 60 Javelin command/launch units, 100 Javelin missile rounds and other support at a cost of $26m.
"This approved sale will contribute to the foreign policy and national security objectives of the US by improving the military capabilities of Ireland while enhancing weapon system standardisation and interoperability with US forces," the agency said.
"Ireland desires this missile system to fulfil their commitments for participation in peacekeeping operations throughout the world, including the United Nations Stand-by Arrangement System," it said.
?
"This approved sale will contribute to the foreign policy and national security objectives of the US by improving the military capabilities of Ireland while enhancing weapon system standardisation and interoperability with US forces,"
...but isn't the javelin a portable, handheld system?
As suggested, a war in Ireland would be most effective if guerilla warfare were employed.
The javelin would be perfect for this role as it could be carried and used by small teams of guerillas.
Don't forget that Ireland is involved a lot in the peace keeping role and such a weapon might come in handy when some big hairy arsed serb millita man tries to run you down in his BMP armoured personal carrier.
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