Originally Posted by
Heathrow Harry
"high lethality capability and exportable"
yes & no - unfortunately a lot of UK kit, especially ships, are very high spec and very costly compared to alternatives in the export trade. We design for top end warfare, most countries don't want or need that capability
But do we actually need that? Given HMG’s fondness for deploying us everywhere do we actually need a lot more less expensive systems? It doesn’t mean they have to be cheap and cheerful, just well thought out. Just look at what the RFN have done with their Buyan class compared to our River class vessels. We get a 30mm canon, they get LACM into a significantly smaller vessel.
Plus with the ever spiralling costs combined with a low risk appetite, we are fast approaching the point where we won’t want to deploy assets for fear of losing them.