Let's take a poll in the industry at the engineering level. I think you would find overwhelming disagreement...not with my view but yours.
Going from a parts manufacturer to a large scale system integrator is NOT a last gasp but rather a very successful strategy for many reasons.
Sucessful for the company. But not the COUNTRY. You keep missing the infrastructural point.
Large scale integration is how Airbus became so successful (however mismanagement is why it is failing).
No. It was their national subsidies...right up front as phony loans. Never repaid, coincidentally. As for their practicing integration...it was a political necessity, to farm the work out throughout their European pork-barrel pals. And in a sense, it is largely for this same reason that Boeing is doing the same outsourcing. To garner sales from countries that really don't practice free trade...but nationally-managed trade...and will grant the favor of plane orders, for a piece of the business. A slippery slope indeed.
I understand your concern. However, this is yesterday's argument against outsourcing. Engineers need to adapt to the global economy.