The discussion warns against treating every reduction in force size as a proportional saving. Bases, support systems, skilled personnel, and maintenance arrangements remain necessary even when fewer platforms are bought. High-technology forces can therefore become more efficient as additional usable units share an infrastructure that has already been paid for. This is the practical constraint behind arguments that very small advanced forces can be poor value.
Notable Point · 11:31-12:17
The fixed infrastructure behind defence spending
Reducing a force does not remove the expensive infrastructure needed to operate advanced military equipment.