• Tar_Alcaran@sh.itjust.works
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    1 year ago

    The problem is that everyone wants shells now, and nobody wants shells in 10 years.

    Nobody is going to build a new production line in a new factory just to mothball it in a few years when demand falls off.

    • Fisk400@feddit.nu
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      1 year ago

      Sounds like a business that shouldn’t be privately owned but just be a part of the military.

      • Kidplayer_666@lemm.ee
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        1 year ago

        Either by paying up and shutting up or by owning the factories themselves you’d lose a bunch of money, so not sure that’s the way to tackle it

        • Fisk400@feddit.nu
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          1 year ago

          I mean, paying billions for things that will probably never be used in any meaningful capacity is not a foreign concept to the military. They do it all the time.

    • jmcs@discuss.tchncs.de
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      1 year ago

      With climate change related conflicts (especially water conflicts) rising exponentially, I don’t think there’s going to be a shortage of demand for ammunition any time soon.

  • HobbitFoot
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    1 year ago

    It isn’t as easy on the American side. The US military owns most of the facilities that make munitions, even if it outsources operations. There was some slack in the supply chain to make more, but that slack is gone and you need an act of Congress to increase from there.

  • Echo5@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    You skipped the step where they have to restart the whole factory and renew the contract (which will take at least a couple weeks) before simply receiving more artillery shells. Navigating MIC contracts is hell.