The Impact of Different Levels of Weapon System Sophistication on the Management of FMS (Foreign Military Sales) Objectives: A Study of Three ROK (Republic of Korea) Cases.

In recent years, the sale of weapon systems to foreign nations has involved weapons of much greater sophistication than previously sold. U.S. Air Force Foreign Military Sales managers are faced with fulfilling cost, schedule, performance, and logistics objectives without regard to the level of sophistication involved. This thesis examines the management challenges associated with developed weapon systems and advanced weapon systems through a case study of three South Korean FMS programs. As a background to the management task, the environments of the U.S. and the ROK are presented, then the three programs are examined in terms of the management of cost, schedule, performance, and logistics objectives. The three cases are Peace Freedom III, the coproduction of the F-5EF, Peace Voice, the purchase of the ANGRC-206 ground radio, and Peace Bridge, the purchase of the F-16CD. The impact of the different levels of sophistication upon the management tasks and how managers fulfill the program requirements are examined in detail. Conclusions regarding the implications of advanced system sales and potential management actions are presented.