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The Falkland Islands Defence Force

The Falkland Islands Defence Force is a volunteer force whose primary role is  is to support British Forces South Atlantic Islands in their role of deterrence and defence.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=eSWRv-hYFjM#t=4781

Read more

http://www.fig.gov.fk/fidf/

Falkland Islands Defence Force new recruits start training

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Think Defence

Think Defence hopes to start sensible conversations about UK defence issues, no agenda or no campaign but there might be one or two posts on containers, bridges and mexeflotes!

This Post Has 9 Comments

  1. Euan December 14, 2014

    Eh! I just watched this last night :| good video nonetheless.

  2. Able December 14, 2014

    Do they really think Argentina won’t come in force the next time they might try to take the islands? If so then surrendering the FIDF would always be the smart choice according to the royal marine

  3. Kent December 15, 2014

    Just perusing the Falklands on Google Maps and found what looks to be an unimproved airstrip at Port Howard and another at Fox Bay Village on West Falkland. There are probably others, but the question is: Is there any thought of improving such sites as dispersal airfields for RAF Mount Pleasant?

  4. wf December 15, 2014

    Airfields are liabilities unless you can guard them :-(

    No interest in making it easier for a couple of AR C130’s to land on West Falkland with a company of paras and then declare UDI…

  5. Kent December 16, 2014

    @wf – The airfields are already there, and I’ve been on the ground when C-130s used dirt/turf strips to bring in supplies under…inclement conditions. With decent radar in place on the FI, no C-130s or any other a/c (other than perhaps something stealthy) should be able to reach the place without plenty of warning. Given that warning, a jeep, an MRAP, or a “technical” equipped with a .50 Cal or a 7.62mm Minigun parked in the middle of an airfield should make a landing problematic unless the “air assault” is escorted by FJs/CAS/attack helicopters. If they make it that far, the Typhoons wouldn’t be doing their jobs, now, would they?

    Just thinking that if credible threats are made the RAF might not want to have all their “eggs” in one (or two with the Port Stanley airport) “basket.”

  6. Observer December 16, 2014

    Kent, yet the reverse is also true, you don’t want outlying airfields that can be snapped up in isolation for an enemy foothold, so I guess it’s a balance between dispersal and enough concentration to provide a credible defence.

    “With decent radar in place on the FI, no C-130s or any other a/c (other than perhaps something stealthy) should be able to reach the place without plenty of warning. Given that warning, a jeep, an MRAP, or a “technical” equipped with a .50 Cal or a 7.62mm Minigun parked in the middle of an airfield should make a landing problematic unless the “air assault” is escorted by FJs/CAS/attack helicopters. ”

    Then you go in by Zodiac and stuff a wad of chewing gum down the chamber of the gun when the drivers are sleeping. :) Then call your friends in.

  7. ArmChairCivvy December 16, 2014

    True, they would win the snap referendum

    ” for a couple of AR C130’s to land on West Falkland with a company of paras and then declare UDI…”

  8. Kent December 16, 2014

    @Observer – Don’t really have to have an airstrip to land a C-130. Figure the Argentinians were there long enough the last time to have a good idea where C-130s could land. I guess you could have the FIDF lads go around building stone fences across every open piece of ground. :D About the Zodiac…that would be a long, cold ride! Just how good are the Argentinian SBS equivalents, given that they let their sub sink at dockside?

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