By now you're aware that I don't have a lot of interest or knowledge in the aerial or ground tech aspects of the sim. I haven't posted designs or orders of battle or what-not. This isn't likely to change, unless specific issues impact ship design. But since I happen to be playing a neighbour, friend, and/or rival to some of you, I thought it might be prudent to present a few thoughts on Iberia, Bharat, and Persia.
From my perspective, Iberia is broadly on par with countries like France or Italy in terms of technological development. It has a viable arms industry capable of producing competing ideas to fill domestic requirements, though foreign orders remain possible. I'd peg research and development timetables ~0-6 months behind France or Italy for most routine stuff; possibly longer if the items are unique, possibly less if everybody and their uncle are also developing the stuff (because in that case, it's obviously not that difficult if everybody can do it).
Bharat is not at this level, not quite. Though the overall degree of industrialization is less, there's still a lot of brainpower amongst the 400 million or so Bharatis, so I'm thinking Bharat R&D is maybe ~12 months behind France/Italy in most cases. There is a viable armaments industry, but it is beginning to consolidate. Although foreign orders have not been common to date, I would expect there'd be some room for historically friendly powers to enter procurement processes. That trend will continue as domestic consolidation leaves fewer local competitors. As with Iberia, I reserve the right to jump on bandwagons if other powers in Bharat's weight class start fielding radically new stuff.
Persia, despite its three factories, is probably not very industrialized at all; I'm even informally capping their warship construction capabilities at destroyers. I don't expect much from the aeronautical field at all. At best, maybe they can produce licence copies of stuff, or some design some low-excitement trainer/transport types; anything else will be purchased and produced abroad. The land armaments industry is likely in the same condition - maybe basic cars, trucks, and rifles are produced. R&D is not happening at a meaningful level; more likely, the best and brightest are working for the big Bharati firms. Persia's version of jumping on bandwagons will be to nag their suppliers for a chance at buying the cool stuff.
In terms of collaborative projects for all three nations, I see no obvious reason to cut off existing collaborations with other countries. I do not, however, foresee sharing of any new cutting edge ideas with anybody who's not a formal ally. Not that I personally expect to introduce any cutting edge ideas in these areas.
Thoughts? Questions? Sound reasonable?