The United States Congress is on the verge of approving comprehensive reform in military acquisitions, aligning with previous efforts by the Pentagon. While opinions are divided on the real impact of these changes, the fundamental goal is clear: the accelerated integration of commercial innovation into the American armed forces. It is a strategic move aimed at modernizing and strengthening internal capabilities.
A Second Valley of Death for Innovation
Paradoxically, far less attention has been paid to legislative and administrative efforts to help highly innovative American tech startups overcome a critical obstacle: the so-called „second valley of death” – the US defense export system. Even though both branches of government have made significant progress this year, much more is needed to fully harness emerging technologies for the benefit of allies and partners, enhancing their ability to deter conflicts independently.
The Silent Weapons of Tomorrow
Emerging and commercial technologies – from decentralized communication networks and 3D printers, to unmanned surface vessels equipped with AI-enabled RF sensors, commercial drones, and advanced operational planning tools – offer partners a unique opportunity to narrow the military power gap they face against larger adversaries when effectively deployed. These innovations are vectors of strategic balance.
The Ukrainian Lesson: The Drone as a Game Changer
A striking example is Ukraine’s rapid adaptation of inexpensive, imported, commercially available quadcopters, transformed into lethal strike systems early in the war (and which it now produces domestically). This initiative successfully shifted the tactical balance against a much larger Russian force, demonstrating the power of agile technology.
The Strategic Imperative of Tech Sharing
As new technologies reshape warfare and empower smaller militaries innovating operationally, the United States must deliberately harness emerging and commercial tools. It is essential to enable allies and partners to be more effective in deterrence and on the battlefield – especially as Washington asks them to bear a greater share of the burden of managing conflicts in their own regions.
A System Designed for Yesterday, Not Tomorrow
Despite this immense potential, the US Foreign Military Sales (FMS) and security cooperation systems were not designed to routinely transfer emerging technologies or programs not registered as „programs of record” (NPOR). On the contrary, FMS was structured around major US weapon systems – programs of record (POR) – for which the Department of War has already invested in development, testing, sustainment, and cultivated a network of acquisition personnel with deep expertise in developing plans and negotiating contracts on behalf of foreign partners. As a result, the US government has lacked clear guidance and reproducible processes to evaluate, validate, and contract for NPOR on behalf of foreign partners.
