Well run military programs

[apparition13]

There are a lot of threads on bad decisions, but what I'd like to focus on here are well run programs. My submission is the JMSDF, who have built around one submarine and one "destroyer" (DDH, DDG, DD, DDK, DE) per year for some 60 years. The subs serve around 20 years before replacement, the DDs around 30. The surface fleet is built around 4 DDH groups, each with 2 DDG and 5 DD escorts. These evolved from three helicopter DDHs built in the 70s with Mk13 armed DDG and ASROC and Sea Sparrow DDs to the Hyuga and Izumo DDH designs, each with 2 Aegis DDGs and 5 DDs with 32 cell mk41 carrying 16 vlasroc and 64 ESSM each. No start/stop programs, no failures, no massive overruns on uproved tech, just evolutionary designs until new (US) tech is proved to be of value in which case a revolutionary upgrade occurs, but one that is low risk because of the use of proven tech.

Even their newest concept fits. They are building their first Frigates, the Mogami class, each with around half the fighting capability of a DD, though with significant drone capability the DDs lack, but at a rate of 2 per year for a total of 22 to replace older DDs and DEs that aren't assigned to the DDH groups, which will give them a presence capability they lack and allow for testing operational use of drones.

I'd like to see what a USN or RN run on those lines would look like.

Any nominations for other programs?

 

[Pioneer]

Thanks for the subject apparition13
If I may, would I be right in thinking the difference between Japanese and the US/British military Programs/acquisition is the Japanese true sense of nationalism, patriotism and an appreciation of the strategic importance of sovereign capability and sustainability verses partisan politics and corporate profits in US & Britain......?
Looking forward to seeing and learning of successful "well run" programs.

Regards
Pioneer

 

[apparition13]

I don't think so, but I'm not educated enough in the topic to speak confidently.

The LDP has been in charge for the vast majority of the last 65 years, which helps with consistent policy, but pacifism is so strongly ingrained in the public post-war that they have trouble making moves to increase defense or change policy. In a sense the government has persevered in spite of public opinion.

Polymatter has a couple youtube videos on Japan and the military that go into more detail. I haven't researched this myself to know how accurate his conclusions are, but as youtubers go he seems to be well regarded. This is the second video (of three so far) that talks most directly about pacifism.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ChA2-K1tZNI