HUNTSVILLE — The United States is apparently living up to its old nickname as the “arsenal of democracy.”
According to the State Department, America’s allies and partners posted a record $117 million in foreign military sales in FY 2024 – a 45% increase from FY23.
This unprecedented surge in military hardware, services and security cooperation
activities was one of the first topics discussed Tuesday to kick off the 2025 AUSA Global Force Symposium and Exposition. It runs through Thursday at the Von Braun Center in Huntsville.
Causes for the spike in foreign military sales includes the war in Ukraine and the threat that war brings to NATO’s Eastern Flank, dangerous actions by Iran and its proxies, the Gaza conflict, and threatening behavior by China, according to Brig. Gen. Allen Pepper, a career foreign affairs officer and the commanding general of the U.S. Army Security Assistance Command.
“To borrow a term from the first half of last century, America is once again playing its role as the primary arsenal of democracy,” said Pepper.
The symposium’s theme is “Driving Continuous Transformation of Ready Combat Formations.” Special guest presentations and panel discussions from senior military and industry leaders, address critical points of research and development, acquisition and contracting, force sustainment, and industry partnerships.
Pepper and retired Brig. Gen. Chris Tucker, former USASAC commander and the vice president for International Business Development for L3Harris Technologies, co-presented the first Warriors Corner briefing during the three-day conference. Their presentation recommended solutions to improve FMS timelines, collaboration and synchronization.
“One way the Army and industry can work together to reduce contract timing is through an IDIQ or Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity contract,” said Tucker. “An IDIQ offers flexibility in government procurement simplifying the process and reducing the time and effort required for each individual order.”
Pepper noted that despite the challenges that ongoing FMS reforms are attempting to tackle, USASAC remains committed to working with Army Security Assistance Enterprise stakeholders to meet partners’ needs and the increased global demand.
“The United States remains the partner of choice for other nations looking for reliable international partners, and we will not overlook our obligation to provide the very best, the most timely and transparent customer service we have to offer,” he said.
To view the livestreamed FMS presentation, visit USASAC’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/usasac. To view the complete lineup of livestreamed presentations, visit https://www.dvidshub.net/feature/ausaglobal.
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