> If they can do it for tanks, you be they do it for other, bigger toys.
I get that, but why does the jobs program need to be specifically aircraft carriers? Why can't the jobs programs be drones or cruise missiles or stealth submarines or missile ships? Those are all pretty sweet, and won't makes us look as bad if they're quickly sunk in an engagement.
> I get that, but why does the jobs program need to be specifically aircraft carriers? Why can't the jobs programs be drones or cruise missiles...
Different colors of money, for starters[1]: DoD cannot procure drones or cruise missiles with funds congressionally appropriated for Navy shipbuilding and conversion. Doing so would be a violation of the federal Misappropriation Act[2]. Furthermore, shipbuilding has a 5-year obligation window vs. 3 years for every other procurement activity[3].
> ...or stealth submarines or missile ships?
From a defense strategic perspective, levels of consideration are far more complicated than you might imagine[4]. The concept of a defense ACAT <any_level> program explicitly publicized as a "jobs program" is mindblowingly corrupt. I didn't interpret the article referenced by the parent as being about building more tanks without an inherent need for them. I read it as acknowledging that the cost associated with sustaining a niche industrial infrastructure with a steep learning curve to ensure military readiness--as seemingly high as it may be--is still far less than the alternative of closing the doors of "the only tank manufacturer in the U.S." to save for the now at the risk of not being able to ramp up domestic production if the strategic need ever arose in the future--the consequences of the latter being irrepairable. On a related note, it may surprise some to learn that there are literally hundreds of reserve cargo ships loaded with things like HMMWVs and spit-shine-new M1 tanks strategically scattered across the world, sitting idle and ready...and yes, they're regularly serviced.
I get that, but why does the jobs program need to be specifically aircraft carriers? Why can't the jobs programs be drones or cruise missiles or stealth submarines or missile ships? Those are all pretty sweet, and won't makes us look as bad if they're quickly sunk in an engagement.