OU and New Caledonia - was RE: [GZG]NSLGeopoliticalCompositio n [SEC=UNCLASSIFIED]

Depends on the definition of "manufacture". The capability is there, but
contracts go to the lowest bidder and locals firms just don't have the scale
to compete on a per-unit basis (see the government rationalisation of
the
various navy construction contracts - the capability is getting lower
every time they tender the work out and plants close).

Based on my reading of local contributions to the Joint Strike Fighter
project, we could probably design and build fighters *now* if the
start-up
investment was made. (Of course the main markets for them already have their
own major manufacturers and the voters would kill them if they bought overseas
products).

Brendan 'Neath Southern Skies
http://home.pacific.net.au/~southernsk/

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