Russia's practice of deploying tugs with warships introduces a wider maintenance problem: a fleet can depend on another country's engine manufacturers. Going to war with that supplier also threatens access to spare parts. Buying engines elsewhere leaves existing ships needing lengthy machinery replacements before the new supply relationship can support them. Continuing with the old engines risks failures that cannot be repaired for lack of parts. Establishing domestic production and reverse-engineering the machinery offers another route, but creates its own manufacturing difficulties.
Notable Point · 2:51:49-2:53:35
Losing an engine supplier can immobilize a fleet
Engine dependence creates a maintenance choice between scarce spares, lengthy machinery replacement, and the difficulties of building domestic production.