The Treasury view that economic strength supports national security is accepted, but recent supply shocks reveal the value of industrial independence in selected sectors. Britain does not need to overproduce ships, aircraft, or space systems in peacetime. It does need enough regular orders to preserve specialist skills and facilities. That continuing workload keeps open the option to increase production when a crisis demands surge capacity.
Notable Point · 3:14:07-3:15:58
Industrial capacity as part of national defence
A strong economy is not enough if critical defence sectors cannot expand production in a crisis.