Transatlantic Armaments Cooperation - Federation of American ...

Management Structure
The FTMA management structure consists of
a JSC which is formed by the SNR(A) from
each of the participants and the EMC, which is
composed of the national project managers (O-
6 level) from each participant, as discussed in
Chapter 2. The JSC provides direction on program
execution to the EMC and resolves all
issues referred to it from the EMC. A Military
Working Group with O-6 level representatives
from each nation provides the military priorities
for work efforts to the EMC. In addition, the
EMC has created a Legal Working Group to
advise them on legal issues, and a Technical
Working Group to execute their technical
programs. 6
Technology Transfer
The Phase I national level system demonstrations
used several different technical solutions
and generated significant technological
data exchange. Demonstration of several
different technical solutions reduced the overall
program risk for Phase II, the development
phase. 7 At the end of Phase I, even absent continuation
to Phase II, at a minimum there would
be a basis for each nation to produce 140mm
interoperable and interchangeable tank cannon
and ammunition in the future.
The MOU required sharing of technical performance
data among the participants throughout
Phase I. The data sharing requirements
included the “capability in terms of lethality,
rate of fire, probability of hit, reliability, and
safety information” 8 as well as other basic
design information. However, the partners were
not required to share detail designs and manufacturing
know-how, except through licensing
agreements. Each participant agreed to provide
the other participants, under fair and reasonable
licensing terms, with any technical information
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that was generated as a result of the Phase I
work. However, the participants were not
required to provide this data until Phase II.
Business Management
Each nation’s initial work packages for Phase
I were determined by its technological capabilities
and funding availability. U.S. Phase I
efforts were funded by cooperative R&D Nunn
funds. Although the Phase I work packages for
each nation were substantially different, they
were deemed to be equitable. The MOU required
equitable financial contributions from
all the partners. These types of arrangements
have continued throughout the program with
each nation contracting for and funding its own
efforts. Therefore, work share equal to cost
share concerns are automatically handled by
the arrangement on national work packages.
Currency exchange rates and economic conditions
are also factors that are automatically
handled by the national work packages. 9
Human Dimension
For over a decade, the FTMA leadership from
all participants has demonstrated flexibility and
a willingness to continue to work together
despite many changes in the program. The participants
reach agreement every year on new
work packages and openly share the data to
the extent called for in the MOU.
Notes
Although the FTMA program has not produced
a common tank main armament as originally
planned, by continuing the program as a cooperative
R&D effort there has been significant
technology sharing among the participants. The
governments and industries have all gained
technological information in gun tube wear
reduction coatings, high pressure recoil seal