Debate on UK defence typically focuses on budgets, but that misses the point. What matters is how the money is spent, and whether it results in capability that is fielded at scale. That is the only meaningful measure of success.

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The UK is not short of strategic direction. The Defence Industrial Strategy set clear priorities across technology and procurement reform. The challenge is not intent, but execution.

Several structural factors shape that challenge. Parts of the industrial base are built around a system that accepts “good enough”. Incentives reward process over performance. Alongside that sits a low tolerance........

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