Tuc - you're sailing close to the point where everything is blamed on "waste" and "inefificiencies caused by XXX" where XXX is not us but someone else - as we're YYY - substitute Military, Politicians, Civil Service, BAe, the EU, .... (either XXX or YYY but not both)
I believe "inefficiencies" are part and parcel of a democratic, dispersed decision taking system be it the NHS or the "Successor" progaramme - it's something that we just have to live with. Dictatorships have even worse long-term wastage etc.
When people say "we cannot afford" what they mean is that the public has no appetite for more spending on defence - they honestly can't see the point of much of the expenditure when they feel there are more pressing issues closer to home - their home, work and familly.
They don't believe the politicians and their constant desire for foreign adventures, they don't beleive Industry with it's lamenatable record on delivery and costings, they don't believe the armed forces are very effective against terrorism, they are scepical about statements from retired offcers saying that the sky will fall if we disband HMS Ocean/the marines/the band of the RAF
They see spending the money on the NHS, teachers, fixing potholes and getting houses for young people as a better use of the money...............
Those of us who disagree have to make the case - not on here but out there - and TBH I don't think we're winning