A Study on the Perceptions About Potential Advantages of FMS (Foreign Military Sales) and Commercial Sales: Seller and Buyer Perspectives

Abstract

This study attempted to compare the perceptions of a buyer and seller in the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) and Commercial Sales environment of a major system acquisition. Another purpose of the study was to determine if there existed any significant differences in the perceptions of the two parties. The buyer and seller were represented by a Purchaser Country Representative (PCR) and a United States Air Force Counterpart (USCP) stationed at the International Logistics Center (ILC) and Multinational Directorate (YPX) of the F-16 System Program Office (SPO). The research model for this stu (1985), titled A comparison of Direct Commercial Sales and Foreign Military Sales for the Acquisition of U.S. Defense Articles and Services. Opinion data obtained from interviews with 52 USCPs and 32 PCRs were analyzed statistically as well as descriptively. Government-to-government obligation was ranked number 1 by PCR as a motivator for a purchasing country to utilize the FMS channel for major weapon system acquisition while logistics support was ranked number 1 by USCP. Direct negotiation was ranked number 1 as a motivator for a purchasing country to utilize the Commercial channel for major weapon system acquisition while quick response was ranked number 1 by USCP. Two elements of the potential advantages yielded significant differences in perceptions of the two groups: logistics support for the FMS and direct negotiation for the Commercial channel.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Sep 01, 1987
Accession Number
ADA187843

Entities

People

  • Yong S. Kim

Organizations

  • Air Force Institute of Technology

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Acquisition
  • Air Force
  • Contracts
  • Department Of Defense
  • Foreign Military Sales
  • Government (Foreign)
  • Government Procurement
  • Governments
  • International Organizations
  • Logistics
  • Logistics Support
  • Military Equipment
  • Procurement
  • System Software
  • United States
  • United States Government
  • Weapon Systems

Readers

  • Industrial Economics
  • International Relations and European Studies
  • Organizational Psychology.