Hmmm, I wouldn't say we're the only industry in Europe that knows how to build guns. The German tank industry certainly hasn't lost its potency over the years. The Leopard II MBT is a fine piece of kit.
What the problem is, is our governments inept handling of budget and a culture of want want, give give. People expect something for nothing, and when you couple that up with widespread back-pocketing at the top, then there's not a great deal left to put into the budget.
It's all red-tape, fat cats and mismanagement.
Take a look at the Astute, how badly behind schedule she was until they turned the management upside down and shook it until all the crap fell out.
Besides, these days, war is a different creature, as that article mentioned, we're after fast, light but tough infantry carriers, not heavy main battle tanks because our enemy doesn't run around in a T-90 but on the back of an assault bike with an RPG launcher. Governments tend to have the attitude now that 'The Cold War is over' 'We don't need to worry about big weapons such as tanks and aircraft carriers any more'. At this point in time, they're right, an aircraft carrier is not much use against an insurgent, it won't prevent a suicide bomber from blowing up a marketplace, but I just get this horrible feeling it'll be the '20s all over again one day, when we'll suddenly realise that we've been caught with our trousers around our ankles and we'll have to run to catch up. :hmm:
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