Long-term spending targets can obscure the resources committed in the intervening years. Higher defence spending is promised for later milestones while the four-year investment total covers the immediate period. A higher eventual percentage does little to solve an immediate capacity problem if near-term budgets remain constrained. Substantial spending also needs to produce usable capability, so the criticism concerns delivery as well as the promised totals.
Notable Point · 15:50-17:30
Spending targets and the cost of postponement
Later percentage targets are tested against the money available during the years immediately ahead.