The Foreign Military Sales (FMS) of over 2,200 F- 15, F- 16, and F- 18 fighter aircraft support the security assistance objectives of promoting democratic values, advancing peace, encouraging trade, countering transnational dangers, and fostering global security. These sales also strengthened the aerospace industry through revenues of nearly $40 billion and they provide economies of scale to DoD. With the deteriorating 'stability' of the former bi-polar world and the declining size of U.S. defense budgets, these sales help maintain regional security and burden sharing with 25 allied nations. The future of fighter aircraft FMS is uncertain. The aerospace industry currently commands an enviable position in global trade, providing a $30 billion trade surplus. However, it is struggling with over capacity, diversification, profitability, and declining sales. Prime and sub-contractors could have long-term adverse affects on the industry and FMS. Additionally, inconsistent and obstructive government policies add to the industry's frustration with arms exports. Political and economic support are critical to FMS today and will become even more important for the future sales of highly technical fighter aircraft. To summarize, fighter aircraft FMS have a proven history of effective security assistance implementation. At the same time, they contribute to the financial, political, and military elements of national power through additional business to the ailing aerospace industry, political leverage to foreign policy decision making, and access and interoperability to the military. Desert Storm demonstrated how fighter aircraft FMS facilitated access, military interoperability, and the success of coalition forces.


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    Title :

    Fighter Aircraft Foreign Military Sales: Industry Survival and National Power


    Contributors:

    Publication date :

    1993


    Size :

    29 pages


    Type of media :

    Report


    Type of material :

    No indication


    Language :

    English