Office of Defense Cooperation (ODC)

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Foreword

International Armaments Cooperation Handbook
November 8, 2004

International armaments cooperation is a complicated business. Acquisition personnel considering international armaments cooperation for their programs must take into account a series of complex national and international interrelationships. While the business is complex, the rewards are great. International armaments cooperation has the potential to significantly improve
interoperability for coalition warfare, to leverage scarce program resources, and to obtain the most advanced, state-of-the-art technology from the global technology and industrial base. The International Armaments Cooperation Handbook satisfies the need for a straightforward, explanatory “road map” through this complex business.

This handbook is not in itself a policy document, but is based almost entirely upon laws and policy documents. It is an informed view of the current practices and procedures in this complex area. It was developed from inputs from many informed sources, primarily the Office of the Secretary of Defense: OUSD(Acquisition, Technology & Logistics)/International Cooperation and OUSD(Policy)/Technology Security Policy and Counterproliferation. Support
contractors from LMI, AT&T Government Solutions and JIL Information Systems provided valuable inputs, as well as assistance with handbook integration, including a new feature of including links to the laws and policy documents referenced throughout. The Military Departments international program offices provided support for selected sections. Perhaps most importantly, it directs the reader to additional sources for assistance and information.

Since this handbook was last issued in 2003, this version represents a partial rewrite and general update from the previous version. As users of this handbook will likely be interested in only one or several of the chapters, each is written to stand alone.

International armaments cooperation is constantly changing. This handbook will be updated annually; visit http://www.acq.osd.mil/ic/handbook.html for the current version. Your comments, suggestions, and updates are welcome. Please forward them to P_and_A@osd.mil.