Although Japanese production is certainly quicker we must be careful, unlike Mr Francois, not to compare Apples and Oranges. The Mogamis are a smaller GP vessel compared to T26. Also what definition is used for commissioned\IOC\FOC, etc, Mogami I understand doesn't have any VLS installed.
Also lets not forget that Japan is probably third largest ship building country in the world after China and South Korea.
On the one hand COVID is a bit of a poor excuse but the impact and approach to COVID is vastly different between Japan and the UK. It has only been a month since they lifted their travel ban.NickC wrote: Adm Gardner Director General (Ships) excuses for the delay due to Covid, lack of eng'g maturity of the BAE design and supply chain, MF sarcastically asked if Covid didn't effect the Japanese, what the was the T26 lack of eng'g maturity was not explained, the supply chain (the David Brown MGR, Ben Wallace Defence secretary had read the riot act to the DB).
As regards T26 engineering maturity and gearbox issues. Is it surprising when we haven't ordered any gearboxes for twenty years since the last T23. Maybe we shouldn't have thrown out the intercooler with the bath water and carried on the IEP lineage of T45.