Consolidating test facilities saves standing costs, but it can also create queues and force every new class to rebuild expertise that no longer exists between programs. A fire-service analogy separates apparent efficiency from operational resilience. Spare capacity should be judged by how well it absorbs a crisis rather than whether every person and facility is continuously busy.
Chapter · 10:33-14:52
Testing capacity is part of fleet readiness
A smaller fleet can still suffer longer trials when test ranges, specialist crews, and facilities disappear faster than ship numbers decline.