Citation

Hayward K. Def. Peace Econ. 2005; 16(2): 127-141.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2005, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/1024269032000110559

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The US has embarked upon a major transformation of its approach to defence industrial base planning. Although bureaucratic and industrial inertia, as well as budgetary constraints, may delay transformation, its effects will lead to radical changes in the US defence industrial base with new entrants and new combinations of players. The UK, with more modest defence ambitions, capabilities and budget, will seek to keep in touch with the US. However, a commercially-led drive to embed UK industry even more deeply in the US defence market could be the last step in creating a largely US-UK North Atlantic relationship, with much of Europe very much a subsidiary business concern. This contains a risk that the UK will become increasingly dependent on the US for design and integration of major systems and national defence industrial capability focused on a limited number of niche technologies.