Wars and superior military capabilities are all about inventing and possessing and producing cutting edge technology. You don't get that off-the-shelf.
In WW2, it was only the newest and latest virtually unproven designs that guaranteed a winning edge.
Unfortunately, many paid the ultimate price when that new technology or design had flaws that produced early and unexpected failures. That's the price of winning wars.
OTS technology works just fine for commercial applications and peacetime military activities, but it won't win wars. It will help when non-critical equipment is involved.
I can recall when a U.S. military study found 187 different makes and models of road vehicles were utilised by the military during WW2, resulting in a plethora of different parts and vastly increased logistical requirements.
As a result, it was determined that reducing the numbers of makes and models and utilising common componentry - and proven OTS componentry - was advantageous.
However, very rarely is a road vehicle a critical item, unlike aviation items.
Last edited by onetrack; 17th Oct 2016 at 03:29.