Exquisite weapons, fleet numbers, and layered defence

Has the West lost the plot by favoring wonder weapons over mass-produced systems such as Liberty ships?

Western technology can be excellent without being decisive enough to offset shrinking inventories; balanced fleets need affordable volume and several defensive layers alongside advanced systems.

An outnumbered force can rationally seek a technological edge, yet a peer opponent is unlikely to be so far behind that quality always defeats quantity. The discussion treats Western equipment supplied to Ukraine as evidence of technical capability while stressing that it remains fallible and often comes from an earlier generation. Falling procurement volumes spread development costs over fewer weapons and make each purchase more expensive. Even perfect interception cannot protect a ship after its missile magazine is exhausted. An uncrewed arsenal vessel would add missiles only if it could reach the force safely, whereas carrying more missiles aboard the combatant addresses the same shortage directly. The panel's preferred combination is advanced systems with adequate inventories and overlapping defensive weapons.