The useful measure of procurement is the capability obtained for the expenditure. Announcing a large sum says little without explaining how many ships it buys and what missile and self-defence capacity they carry. Schools and fire engines provide the comparison: expenditure matters through usable school places and vehicles. Once research and other preparatory work have been paid for, additional spending can purchase more operational units. The argument asks how much extra capability another increment of funding would provide.
Notable Point · 59:35-1:01:07
Measure defence spending by the capability it buys
Procurement totals become useful when they explain how many ships, missiles, and self-defence systems the money buys.