Long procurement cycles mean that a government cannot swiftly correct a force shortfall once the threat changes. Ships, aircraft, and armoured vehicles may take decades from decision to service, so a force built for yesterday's risk matrix can remain in place long after the matrix changes. An active production line makes extra ships cheaper because the yard, workforce, and routines already exist. Stop-start construction instead charges the state either to retain idle skilled workers or to recruit and train a new workforce, a difficulty illustrated by Australia's Type 26 programme.
Notable Point · 9:25-13:49
A steady shipbuilding drumbeat preserves capacity
Adding ships is cheaper and faster when they join an active production line rather than a stop-start programme that must rebuild its workforce.