CR940

Engineer. Powered by coffee, clever design, vehicles of all kinds, history, nature, photography, countryside.

[CR940 @CR940]

@thinkdefence And on Point 3...

https://t.co/0pdk8cim2Y

[CR940 @CR940]

@thinkdefence I looked at the "Appendix: Review Process" of 2025 SDR and the long list of experts/consultants it contains, then noted how many submissions were made, and decided the cost must be in the millions.

[CR940 @CR940]

@thinkdefence Anyone ever work out how much each 'strategic' review and associated Equipment/Investment Plan cost to produce, and which department's funds are used?

[CR940 @CR940]

@thinkdefence I'll be really impressed if it retracts into the trailer just as quickly

[CR940 @CR940]

@thinkdefence Unless and until there is all-party consensus that the hard decisions will be taken and supported by all administrations until the problem is solved, no party will dare to do more than tinkering at the edges. Buying votes with taxpayers' own money has become standard procedure.

[CR940 @CR940]

@jmcsms @Steveo11011 @thinkdefence The problem with pension cuts is that people have (in general) paid their taxes and saved knowing there is a set financial return in their retirement. All the paying in is done before the pension pay-out starts. So pensioners have no way to mitigate against pension cuts.

[CR940 @CR940]

@thinkdefence Good in non-combat areas. A nightmare to armour, so if a protected role is foreseen, better to start with a different vehicle.

[CR940 @CR940]

@thinkdefence Ever heard of the sunk-cost fallacy?

[CR940 @CR940]

@thinkdefence The same designer came up with Supacat's ATMP and later on HMT Jackal, and the larger HMT-like AVA that never made production.

[CR940 @CR940]

@DarthFreder @thinkdefence Nope - all Alvis

[CR940 @CR940]

@PreeceRobert @thinkdefence Wasn't for the lack of company proposals - Alvis pushed CVR(T) & Stormer throughout 80s & 90s but were dismissed by MOD who evidently wanted something big and imposing.

[CR940 @CR940]

@G4Wallah @ryanscottborman @thinkdefence Apparently Stalwart was a REME nightmare for the same reason. All the mechanics were under the deck & cab, and access was down through the load bed. Bad news if it had a full cargo. Worse still if the only way to shift it was using the HIAB when engine failure killed hydraulics.

[CR940 @CR940]

@thinkdefence But a problem of its own making, with constant requirement creep, gold plating, massively heavy process and a complete lack of understanding that speed of procurement is vital

[CR940 @CR940]

@thinkdefence There's going to be a lot of Landies going spare soon

[CR940 @CR940]

@thinkdefence Have been saying this to those who possibly have influence for close on 20 years; many agree but nothing ever happens. Maybe the weight of TD opinion will finally persuade the right people to get on and make the necessary changes.

[CR940 @CR940]

@B0ATsmith @thinkdefence Alvis did Stormer 30 with a 30mm Oto gunn in the 90s, and BAE revised it ten years later into CV21 with a different in-house turret, but MOD showed no interest.

[CR940 @CR940]

@thinkdefence Won't be long then before the company is bought by some vast corporation overseas, especially if it makes inroads into the executive aviation market.

[CR940 @CR940]

@HGWellsHouse @thinkdefence But does raise blood pressure to dangerous levels

[CR940 @CR940]

@thinkdefence 13 hours you say? We used to make aircraft with folding wings that took minutes not hours to make airworthy...

https://t.co/UyYkeBPR0W

[CR940 @CR940]

@thinkdefence Right focus, but to build up enough industrial capacity to ensure resilience without reliance on imports will take a lot more than the defence budget.