I'm no expert but I have to suspect that "design by committee", political interference, change of spec halfway through development and potential returns on future sales have all made the process of procuring a fighting machine something of a "dogs breakfast" nowadays. In the past, military aircraft were designs conforming to a War Ministry specification, this meant that usually the service got what it needed. Nowadays, it seems, a price is set, then a race to provide the cheapest bid is carried out. After awarding the contract, the cost then usually leaps by a factor of 5 and Politicians deny they have upgraded the spec. Maybe my understanding of procurement of major hardware is lacking ( due to my never having been involved at that level). I do know that looking at everything that's been bought since mid 90s it seems to have gone that way. Sorry for the verbosity !
Smudge
Last edited by smujsmith; 17th Aug 2013 at 22:07.