WASHINGTON

US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin greenlit a tasking memo Tuesday for his agency’s Foreign Military Sales (FMS) Tiger Team to improve and expedite the execution of foreign military sales, or FMS, cases.

The memo targets six key pressure points within the FMS system and directs the implementation of recommendations to streamline the agency’s institutional processes, according to a statement.

In line with the 2022 National Defense Strategy, which emphasizes collaboration with allies and partners, the Tiger Team thoroughly analyzed representative case studies, identified systemic challenges and solicited feedback from stakeholders, including allies, partner nations, and US industry.

To achieve the goals, Austin issued instructions to FMS-implementing agencies, which include enhancing understanding of ally and partner requirements, enabling efficient reviews for the release of technology and providing allies and partner nations relevant priority capabilities.

Other instructions include accelerating acquisition and contracting support by establishing standards, metrics, and process maps, expanding Defense Industrial Base (DIB) capacity to meet increased demand and collaborating with the broader US government, including the State Department and Congress, to improve the FMS process.

"FMS is a fundamental tool of U.S. foreign policy and national security and strengthens the United States' unmatched network of allies and partners," said the statement.

Administered by the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) and authorized by the Arms Export Control Act (AECA), the FMS program strengthens the United States' network of global alliances.

Austin established the FMS Tiger Team in August 2022 to address historical inefficiencies in the US' transfer of defense articles and services to foreign allies and partners.