When competing missile teams belong to the same company

A supplier can employ capable, dedicated people while leaving customers with few independent alternatives. One missile competition is recalled as involving MBDA's UK operation and possibly its Italian operation, before the teams joined forces on a common project. The particular weapon is not identified, and the Italian participant remains uncertain. Buying an American alternative is presented here as moving the choice to Raytheon, leaving a narrow field of suppliers. Similar concerns extend to armored vehicles and ship design, where successive decisions within one corporate culture can repeatedly favor the same approach. A dominant supplier's pursuit of profit follows the commercial position created for it.