Guide
What are the types of Foreign Military Sales cases?
A case is the signed plus any amendments and modifications to it. There are three types of case: Defined Order cases for specified items and quantities, Blanket Order cases for a category of support up to a dollar value, and Supply Support Arrangement cases for depot-level supply support. Building Partner Capacity cases, funded under U.S. authorities, are a fourth kind of case.
Categories of cases
and Building Partner Capacity Cases () are comprised of the initial (i.e., Basic Document) Case document, and if required any subsequent case related Amendments and Modifications documents.
See Chapter 5 on the case policies and Chapter 15 on use of for cases.
The U.S. Government () typically utilizes the case’s current implemented as the legal instrument to conduct under authorities provided in the , and programs per their applicable legal authorities. The case’s implemented document, whether it be the basic , an amendment, or an modification, itemizes the defense articles, services, and trainings that are planned to be provided. The document is not used to provide data. C5.6.4 provides additional details on the types of cases.
In accordance with the C5.6.4 and C15, there are three types of cases, plus cases:
1. Defined Order cases
2. Blanket Order cases
3. Supply Support Arrangement () cases
4. Building Partner Capacity () cases
References
SAMM
- SAMM GLOSSARY/defined-order-case — Defined Order Case
- SAMM GLOSSARY/blanket-order-case — Blanket Order Case
- SAMM GLOSSARY/cooperative-logistics-supply-support-arrangements-clssa — Cooperative Logistics Supply Support Arrangements (CLSSA)
- SAMM GLOSSARY/building-partner-capacity-bpc-case — Building Partner Capacity (BPC) Case
Related
Letter of Offer and Acceptance (LOA)
The legal instrument used by the USG to transfer itemized defense articles, defense services, and design and construction services to foreign partners.
When used under the authorities provided in the Arms Export Control Act for Foreign Military Sales, the LOA is a binding agreement signed by the USG and the foreign partner to transfer such articles and services.
When used under Building Partnership Capacity (BPC) authorities, the BPC LOA is not signed by the Benefitting Partner.
SAMM Glossary, as of 12 September 2026
Glossary entry →Open the manual’s entry → (opens in new tab)
Foreign Military Sales (FMS)
A process, authorized by the Arms Export Control Act, through which eligible foreign governments and international organizations may purchase defense articles, services, and training from the United States Government.
SAMM Glossary, as of 12 September 2026
Glossary entry →Open the manual’s entry → (opens in new tab)
Cooperative Logistics
The logistics support provided a foreign government/agency through its participation in a U.S. DoD logistics system, with reimbursement paid to the USG for the support provided.
SAMM Glossary, as of 12 September 2026
Glossary entry →Open the manual’s entry → (opens in new tab)
SAMM — Security Assistance Management Manual
SAMM Acronyms, as of 12 September 2026
Glossary entry →Security Assistance Management Manual (SAMM) →
FMS — Foreign Military Sale
SAMM Acronyms, as of 12 September 2026
LOA — Letter of Offer and Acceptance
SAMM Acronyms, as of 12 September 2026
Arms Export Control Act (AECA)
The basic U.S. law providing the authority and general rules for the conduct of Foreign Military Sales and commercial sales of defense articles, defense services, and training. The Arms Export Control Act (AECA) came into existence with the passage of the Foreign Military Sales Act (FMSA) of 1968. An amendment in the International Security Assistance and AECA of 1976 changed the name of FMSA to the AECA.
SAMM Glossary, as of 12 September 2026
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Price and Availability (P&A)
Implementing Agencies’ (IAs) (Military Department organizations and Defense Agencies) response to requests from a foreign government or international organization (partner) for preliminary pricing and availability for international competitions and requests from authorized USG requesting authorities for building partner capacity. Furnishing of this data does not constitute a commitment for the USG to offer for sale the articles and services for which the data is provided.
SAMM Glossary, as of 12 September 2026
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CLSSA — Cooperative Logistics Supply Support Arrangement
SAMM Acronyms, as of 12 September 2026
Glossary entry →Cooperative Logistics Supply Support Arrangements (CLSSA) →
Security Cooperation
Activities undertaken by the DoD to encourage and enable international partners to work with the United States to achieve strategic objectives. It includes all DoD interactions with foreign defense and security establishments, including all DoD-administered security assistance programs, that: build defense and security relationships that promote specific U.S. security interests, including all international armaments cooperation activities and security assistance activities; develop allied and friendly military capabilities for self-defense and multinational operations; and provide U.S. forces with peacetime and contingency access to host nations.
SAMM Glossary, as of 12 September 2026
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