Foreign Military Sales

Government-to-government sales of US defense equipment and services, administered by the Defense Security Cooperation Agency.

Foreign Military Sales (FMS) is the US government-to-government channel for transferring defense articles, services, and training to allied and partner governments. It is administered by the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) within the Department of Defense. Under FMS, the US government itself contracts with manufacturers and sells to the foreign government, rather than the company selling directly.

FMS is one of two main routes for US arms transfers. The other is Direct Commercial Sales, in which a company sells directly to a foreign buyer under a State Department license. Major FMS cases are notified to Congress, which makes them one of the more visible parts of the arms-transfer record.

Also known as: FMS

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Cite this page: Break the Chain (NYC-DSA Anti-War Working Group), "Foreign Military Sales," Arms-Trade and Logistics Glossary. https://wecanbreakthechain.com/glossary/foreign-military-sales/

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