RoaringTigerHiddenDragon
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I see the general angst in people about defense development. What many people fail to understand is that defense development is NOT a linear process. That is, if it took 20 years to develop the first prototype, it does not mean it will take 40 years to develop the next 2 prototypes. Once a design ecosystem is set and talent is created, future prototypes are going to get released at a much rapid pace. Engine development is quite similar. Once materials science capabilities and test platforms are created, the simulation and development of prototypes is much faster. What is holding our engine development back is a general lack of use of advanced materials in other sectors of the economy. But by slowly indigenizing materials such as managing steel for ships, crystals for lasers, optical lenses for sensors etc., we would get into a position where making a single crystal blade should happen naturally. For instance, we miniaturized nuke reactors for SSBNs and developed cryogenic engines because we had other ecosystems present that made these achievements feasible. A combination of ecosystems is what led to advanced breakthroughs in the west. Not like yeah I am going to go target a single crystal blade development from day one. It will all come. Robust ecosystems development is what is needed. A sophisticated and advanced quality MIC is what will really deter the enemies. And we are building toward that.
Who would have ever thought that India would be making power plays exporting supersonic missiles? Yet we did. The same will happen in jet engine development. Why? Other ecosystems like a large domestic airline industry with MROs setup in India, will gain us certain advantages that small countries like Turkey will not be able to get. And that is the difference. People underestimate this advantage of being a large ecosystem.
Who would have ever thought that India would be making power plays exporting supersonic missiles? Yet we did. The same will happen in jet engine development. Why? Other ecosystems like a large domestic airline industry with MROs setup in India, will gain us certain advantages that small countries like Turkey will not be able to get. And that is the difference. People underestimate this advantage of being a large ecosystem.