> 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 co

> 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. [1] https://dap.dau.mil/acquipedia/Pages/ArticleDetails.aspx?aid=9f96cbe4-ed8f-4d20-94c9-b89130c0eb70 https://dap.dau.mil/acquipedia/Pages/ArticleDetails.aspx?aid... [2] https://dap.dau.mil/acquipedia/Pages/ArticleDetails.aspx?aid=7c811aac-4799-4b38-adf2-88a53699d142 https://dap.dau.mil/acquipedia/Pages/ArticleDetails.aspx?aid... [3] https://dap.dau.mil/acquipedia/Pages/ArticleDetails.aspx?aid=9be81897-aae7-4b76-8887-f9334c6d77af https://dap.dau.mil/acquipedia/Pages/ArticleDetails.aspx?aid... [4] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joint_Capabilities_Integration_Development_System https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joint_Capabilities_Integration... [5] http://www.marad.dot.gov/ships-and-shipping/strategic-sealift/office-of-ship-operations/ready-reserve-force-rrf/ http://www.marad.dot.gov/ships-and-shipping/strategic-sealif...