Is this goal documented by the Department of War somewhere? Or are you guessing that there has to be a strategic reason for what seems quite wasteful. It sure seems like there's more efficient ways to achieve this goal.
What would you suggest as a more efficient way to achieve this goal? Building thousands of advanced fighter jets for private citizens? Keeping highly skilled engineers up to date on the most modern technologies and maintaining specialized factories is inherently expensive. You can't leave the factories mothballed because you need to keep the skilled workers employed and practiced with manufacturing.
Maybe there could be something like a weekend warriors but for machinists? One weekend a month, one week a year you build fighter jets. This does mean there needs to be private sector demand for those skillsets so the reservists have relevant day jobs.
Have legitimately successful aerospace companies that sell to other places, and create dual-use industries like autonomous driving with more DARPA challenge type stuff
jandrese|3 months ago
Maybe there could be something like a weekend warriors but for machinists? One weekend a month, one week a year you build fighter jets. This does mean there needs to be private sector demand for those skillsets so the reservists have relevant day jobs.
senordevnyc|3 months ago
Is this an official goal, or at attempt to handwave away the fact that we seem to waste trillions and decades to get anything done?
rangestransform|3 months ago
ntonozzi|3 months ago
Not really the point, but an idea that springs to mind is selling fighter jets to allied countries.