Without stretching this thread to the ridiculous level...
There are many constraints on DMO purchasing, beyond buying the best piece of kit for the job (unfotunate, but true).
Consider the following:
1. Australian content (protecting AS jobs, commendable)
2. Capability (can't argue with that one)
3. Coherence with existing platforms (OK, Sea Sprite was designed to go with a platform envisaged/conceptualised/NOT ordered by the previous Labor govt, which was cancelled by the following Liberal govt, so why did we sign on for the Sea Sprite???)
4. Political favours (this is where final decisions are made, in the house on the hill, not in the offices at R2)
Therefore, it is easy to get one small decision, based on point 4, which snowballs to a massive procurement, based on point 2, which satisfies neither point 2 or point 1....
Yes, I do have personal experience regarding the machinations of the DMO, and the cr
ap that flows from the house with the biggest flagpole.
Happy to discuss specifics, particularly relevant to engineering specs, but not here...
Spanner