Modern nuclear carriers and Second World War battleships belong to very different industrial systems. A single American yard builds nuclear carriers and is paid in part to preserve surge capacity, while electronics and software impose costs older capital ships did not carry. The Royal Navy could order the five King George V-class ships from five commercial builders while retaining naval dockyards and other alternatives. Competition limited supplier leverage. A national-security monopoly leaves a government with little independent basis for challenging a quoted price or schedule.
Notable Point · 38:20-43:06
Why shipyard competition changes naval procurement costs
The contrast between one modern American carrier yard and several British battleship builders shows how industrial structure shapes price, capacity, and bargaining power.