DOD Outlines Upcoming FMS Improvements in Defense Industrial Strategy

The Defense Department’s new National Defense Industrial Strategy doesn't advocate for broad acquisition reform or significant new legislation, but it does show DOD plans to use existing authorities for several acquisition-related initiatives, including improving the Foreign Military Sales program, Wiley Rein said Jan. 19.

The strategy indicates DOD wants to accelerate FMS to address challenges it identified in providing equipment to allies during the Russia-Ukraine war, Wiley said. The acceleration also will help the U.S. counter rising national security threats from China.

Wiley said that speeding up FMS aligns with DOD’s goals of aggressively expanding production capacity without relying on “foreign adversaries,” such as China or Russia; generating new mechanisms for sharing technology with allies; strengthening relationships among allies and partners; and improving planning for the timely delivery of military capabilities to allies and partners.