Transatlantic Armaments Cooperation - Federation of American ...

INTRODUCTION
“An unidentified problem has an infinite number of solutions.”
— Robert H. Humphrey
The ability to perceive change, appreciate its implications, and then to chart an appropriate course
are the marks of visionary government. Anti-trust legislation in the era of Teddy Roosevelt, the
Marshall Plan, and Nixon’s rapprochement with China are several examples of such vision at the
national level. U.S. relations with Europe at the close of the 20 th Century are in a dynamic phase,
calling attention to the component parts of that relationship. Transatlantic cooperative arms development
is not a new idea, but its rationale and the context in which it is engaged have changed,
prompting the need to reassess its place in U.S. acquisition policy.
The contextual changes for transatlantic cooperation are the rapid economic development of
postwar Europe, the continent’s quickening pace of consolidation, the loss of a common threat,
the cultural and political tensions across the Atlantic, unprecedented technical innovation, and
increased emphasis on fighting in a coalition environment.
Despite the compelling reasons for transatlantic armaments cooperation in both the Cold War and
post-Cold War eras, very little has been realized. The reasons for that lack of success are varied
and some are also changing over time. Protection of technology, industrial interests, and political
alignments are considerations that are always evolving. Some obstacles to cooperation are more
mundane, however. The U.S. DoD lacks an organizational culture that is supportive of cooperative
programs. There is also a corresponding lack of knowledge among the implementing management
and workforce and so they tend to avoid these programs.
What is needed is a broad view that provides all involved with an appreciation of the salient
differences that set transatlantic cooperative programs apart, their history, why such cooperation
is important, and how and why it is changing. Members of the acquisition workforce also need
the practical details that relate to the management of a cooperative program. The correct approach,
therefore, is one that addresses both mechanics and the larger context.
Part I (Chapters 1 and 2) covers U.S. policies and procedures for cooperative programs. These
chapters discuss differences between U.S.-only programs and cooperative programs. Three
categories of differences are covered: harmonization of requirements, MOU development, and
security procedures. A discussion of what program managers (PMs) need to know is provided in
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