I think I see what you're getting at but don't see the relevance of LRIP Low Rate Initial Production. LRIP is about getting the new shiny thing quicker by starting production before all the (design) test and evaluation is done.SW1 wrote: ↑25 Jan 2024, 16:45 This goes to the crux of the industrial part of defence that has been ignored for decades.
That of production of expendables is vital if you are to have “sovereignty”.
We should take maybe a lesson from the US LRIP type procurement and buy even if not strictly needed a minimum number of said expendables each year after the main contract is finished. Add to stocks fire off older ones more ect.
But that doesn’t look good on a spreadsheet can cost a not insignificant sum and doesn’t get much traction if the photo ops are all geared to the latest cutting edge shinny new things. It does however make it significantly easier to expand production and use or supply
Inventory in conflict.
You seemed to be suggesting that we carry on buying things after they are in service and the full production has finished. I can see the advantage of this but care wold be needed to ensure we're buying the right stuff. It's no good maintaining a large stockpile of say 4.5inch shells if the guns are going out of service.
Just buying more of what we need would help as the industry has just shrunk down to the bare minimum.