The propulsion plant sets task-group speed, aviation tempo, and which launch systems are practical. Those decisions must therefore be settled before construction starts. Britain's attempt to revisit catapults during the Queen Elizabeth-class programme shows the cost of late uncertainty. Once a contract is reopened, the shipyard has leverage to price the disruption and protect its profit. Governments should decide the core design, understand the consequences, and resist changing it during the build.
Notable Point · 59:56-1:01:42
Freeze core design choices before construction
Changing propulsion or catapult requirements after a carrier contract is underway lets technical disruption and contract renegotiation drive costs sharply upward.