Foreign military sales: Reforms needed.

• Author: Hartzler, Vicky
• Position: Congressional Perspective

At a recent training event for fighter pilots at Nevada's Nellis Air Force Base, aircraft from several North Atlantic Treaty Organization countries engaged in aerial combat exercises in difficult conditions akin to what they experience while deployed over countries like Afghanistan and Syria. Through exercises like Nellis' Red Flag, pilots, maintenance crews, intelligence officers and other personnel strengthen military coalitions by improving communications and building trust based on shared experiences and capabilities.

At recent Red Flag events, the Royal Norwegian Air Force brought 10 F-16 Fighting Falcon jets and two C-130J Hercules cargo planes and the Royal Australian Air Force deployed 400 personnel and 14 aircraft, including a C-17 cargo plane and F/A-18 strike fighters. All of these aircraft are flown by the U.S. military and by other allies and security partners around the world.

These exercises are all the more effective when allies are using the same aircraft, weapons and other equipment, allowing them to become what, in military parlance, is called "interoperable"--effectiveness that is replicated when these same forces are called to fight together.

For example, personnel from the United Kingdom have worked alongside U.S. Navy crews in "Operation Seedcorn" to become proficient in the P-8 maritime surveillance aircraft. With the recent announcement that the United Kingdom will buy several P-8s, these personnel will now be able to effectively operate their own aircraft--sometimes in conjunction with the U.S. Navy--in operations to protect the North Sea from Russian encroachment or anywhere else maritime surveillance capabilities are needed.

Norway, Australia and the United Kingdom acquired these American-made aircraft through the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) process administered by the Departments of State, Defense and Commerce. These multinational exercises and operations truly underscore the value of FMS as a critical component of U.S. national security. This value is demonstrated every year in exercises and operations around the world.

Allowing the opportunity for our allies to buy U.S. defense products--and thus more effectively train and deploy together--solidifies relationships between our military forces. And in those nuanced interactions, trust is key. The underlying level of trust between two countries is a great indicator of future success in that relationship.

By allowing certain countries to purchase some of the most...