The scientist participates in a wasteful enterprise when the same talents could be better used for peaceful, civilian applications. A weapons scientist knows much more about the consequences of a weapon than the military leadership. It is a scientist's professional responsibility to question why, and not take someone's word for it without proper procedures for verification. The scientist as soldier cannot question, but only obey. Kemp - Ethical Justifications for Military Research 1.
Military research is the civic duty of scientists in a just state.
Scientists have no duty to conduct military research for an unjust state or for intrinsically objectionabe weapons. There are moral reasons to keep some research secret. An ethical judgment overrides other considerations such as profits and national pride. Military funding clashes with the disinterested pursuit of truth. It has an adverse impact on the country's economic competetiveness in world industrial markets.