How does a Foreign Military Sales purchaser get technical publications?

The term “publication” can be defined as a wide range of printed material, or other media (such as digital download, CD/DVD, etc.), including technical orders/manuals, indexes, software, supply catalogs, training publications, administrative publications, engineering drawings and associated documents, equipment component lists, decals, forms, and audiovisual products.

In most cases, as with other aspects of the FMS program, no special system has been developed to requisition publications to support the international partner. The systems already used by each of the MILDEPs and other DoW organizations to meet internal requirements have all been adapted to include the international partner. Publications are provided in English. International partners who desire to have contractual, technical or administrative documents translated into the local language may contract for translating services using local resources after the publications have been delivered.

Under the total logistics support concept, publications are an integral part of the support package for major weapons systems. Each major system sale includes those publications required to maintain the system. Technical publications are crucial items in the FMS program, since they often provide the only operating and maintenance instructions for the equipment purchased by international partners. Without the proper publications, equipment may be misused or improperly maintained.

Nevertheless, it is up to the international partner to ensure that such publications are kept current. Lack of up-to-date publications can render a weapon system inoperative. Publications are just as important as training, spares, and support equipment to ensure that the system will perform as required. Follow-on cases for publications are required. To aid in this effort, each of the MILDEPs has developed procedures for automatic distribution. This is the easiest method to ensure that publications are kept up-to-date.

The international partner has a choice of two types of FMS cases for ordering publications, either a blanket order or a defined order case. The blanket order is the preferred type of case to use, as it makes administration of the case much simpler and permits the more rapid filling of international partner requests. If the international partner desires to participate in the automatic distribution program, a blanket order case is mandatory. Certain categories of publications can only be ordered using a defined order case, including Defense Language Institute (DLI) publications and professional military education (PME) correspondence courses. Additionally, each MILDEP has placed restrictions on other publications. More specific guidance on the ordering of publications can be obtained from the respective ILCO.