SD67 wrote: ↑28 Feb 2023, 12:25
It's just a "what if" - ie would it really have taken longer than the 5 year delay to Ajax?
You are asking would it take longer to contract, develop, build and test new chassis instead of using contracted, developed and built chassis that is currently in the testing phase? Not to mention that there are currently some 140 mostly finished Ajax family vehicles and over 200 produced hulls overall. How long would it take from developing a new chassis till the final delivery? Take for example Boxer, it is developed and in production, and yet, by 2025 it is expected to have just 27 vehicles delivered with all 623 delivered by 2032. There is no way that Ajax on the new chassis would be developed, produced, delivered and operational before current Ajax fleet.
SD67 wrote: ↑28 Feb 2023, 12:25
The thing about a new build is per unit costs decrease as you move down the cost curve, it is possible, easy even to extend production as needed.
Again, everyone are talking like getting money for it would be easy. How much additional cost will require a develop, produce and test new chassis? Even if there is a chance to get more money, when this money would be available, especially considering all other projects that needs to take place down the line? Not to mention, how do you expect for a public and its representatives to react if the Army ask for more money to build a new hull for vehicle which is already late and in troubles and on which is already spent so much money?
SD67 wrote: ↑28 Feb 2023, 12:25
Not the case with a refurb project - we hit 148 Challenger 3 - what if more are needed? Someone then has to go scouring the junk yards
Without knowing the state of the 75 tanks in the storage we can only guess. Also I doubt that UK will sent to Ukraine or scrap all the tanks beside those 148. So it is possible that, if more tanks needed, there will be enough hulls. I doubt that UK would want to increase its tank fleet well above 200, considering that anything more would require restructure of part of the army. For three armoured tanks there should be enough tanks, probably even for four. Anything more than that is highly unlikely, not just because tank numbers but also with current ORBAT and manpower.