SUSTAINING FMS ACQUISITIONS


T


here’s no doubt that foreign military sales (FMS) are a critical component of U.S. foreign policy. From bolster-


ing our allies’ counterterrorism capabilities and regional stability to ensuring their interoperability and competency in help- ing the U.S. shoulder the burden of coalition operations, FMS will continue to play a role in our military’s ability to fight and win the multidomain battle.


One of our nation’s staunchest allies, Poland, completed an FMS package in February 2019 that was valued at $411 million. It includes 20 M142 High Mobil- ity Artillery Rocket Systems. Tis purchase, combined with last year’s $4.6 billion FMS purchase of the Patriot Advanced Capability-3,


is a significant boon to


Poland’s widely touted military modern- ization plan, and to NATO capabilities.


With a volatile Russia on its eastern flank, Poland has aggressively stepped up its efforts to obtain more advanced weapons and to expand its defensive capabilities. Te Patriot is one of the world’s most powerful air defense missile systems, and its purchase is Poland’s largest military procurement ever.


“Allies and partners buy from the United States because we sell the world’s most advanced defense systems,” said Lt. Gen. Charles W. Hooper, director of the Defense Security Cooperation Agency, which administers the FMS program for DOD. “Trough the uniquely American approach to security cooperation, we also ensure our allies and partners have all the necessary training, education and institu- tional capacity to effectively employ and sustain the equipment we provide.”


The U.S. Army Security Assistance Command (USASAC) at Redstone Arse- nal, Alabama, manages approximately


84 Army AL&T Magazine Winter 2020


6,000 FMS cases valued at greater than $200 billion. Te command interfaces with 119 security cooperation offices worldwide and provides security assistance and FMS to more than 150 nations and international partners.


When FMS customers enter into an FMS case with the United States, they are purchasing a portfolio of services that includes training, spare parts, technical manuals and the full backing of the U.S. government. Tis is known as the “total package approach.”


Without this sustainment support,


“components will eventually break down. If an FMS customer purchases a tank but can’t acquire spare parts and other main- tenance necessities, that tank is nothing more than a huge paperweight in their motor pool,” said Cindy Decker, chief of the Services and Products Division within


USASAC’s G-4 Acquisition Support Branch.


FINDING THE HARD-TO-FIND Sustainment is so important that it’s often the case that long before partner nations receive an FMS weapon system, spare parts and other capabilities have already been delivered. Some nations, however, have FMS equipment that requires nonstan- dard items. A nonstandard item is one that DOD does not manage, either because it has been retired or because it was never purchased for DOD components.


A small procurement office manned by three employees in New Cumberland, Pennsylvania, ensures that even these hard-to-acquire items are not out of an FMS customer’s reach.


“We have, for example, countries that have purchased materiel from us 20 or


OVER THE LAST 6 YEARS, CENTCOM AOR COUNTRIES ACCOUNT, ON


AVERAGE, FOR 64% OF ARMY FMS SALES


$10 $15 $20 $25


$0 $5


FY12 FY13 FY14 FY15 FY16 FY17 FY18


AOR: Area of responsibility CENTCOM: U.S. Central Command


STRENGTH IN NUMBERS


As multidomain operations take hold, FMS sales remain strong, helping to boost U.S. readiness and aiding U.S. allies. (Image courtesy of USASAC)


To date FY19


THE LAST 4 YEARS HAVE SEEN


A SUBSTANTIAL INCREASE IN SALES TO OUR EUROPEAN PARTNERS


OUR PACIFIC PARTNERS REMAIN CONSTANT, WITH 6%-10% OF ARMY FMS SALES OVER THE LAST 6 YEARS


$22 $19.7 $20.7 $20.1 $14.8 $10.6 $12.4 $9.1


BILLIONS


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77  |  Page 78  |  Page 79  |  Page 80  |  Page 81  |  Page 82  |  Page 83  |  Page 84  |  Page 85  |  Page 86  |  Page 87  |  Page 88  |  Page 89  |  Page 90  |  Page 91  |  Page 92  |  Page 93  |  Page 94  |  Page 95  |  Page 96  |  Page 97  |  Page 98  |  Page 99  |  Page 100  |  Page 101  |  Page 102  |  Page 103  |  Page 104  |  Page 105  |  Page 106  |  Page 107  |  Page 108  |  Page 109  |  Page 110  |  Page 111  |  Page 112  |  Page 113  |  Page 114  |  Page 115  |  Page 116  |  Page 117  |  Page 118  |  Page 119  |  Page 120  |  Page 121  |  Page 122  |  Page 123  |  Page 124  |  Page 125  |  Page 126  |  Page 127  |  Page 128  |  Page 129  |  Page 130  |  Page 131  |  Page 132  |  Page 133  |  Page 134  |  Page 135  |  Page 136  |  Page 137  |  Page 138  |  Page 139  |  Page 140  |  Page 141  |  Page 142  |  Page 143  |  Page 144  |  Page 145  |  Page 146  |  Page 147  |  Page 148  |  Page 149  |  Page 150  |  Page 151  |  Page 152  |  Page 153  |  Page 154  |  Page 155  |  Page 156  |  Page 157  |  Page 158  |  Page 159  |  Page 160  |  Page 161  |  Page 162  |  Page 163  |  Page 164  |  Page 165  |  Page 166  |  Page 167  |  Page 168  |  Page 169  |  Page 170  |  Page 171  |  Page 172  |  Page 173  |  Page 174  |  Page 175  |  Page 176