Armaments Cooperation is the research, development, test and evaluation (RDT&E) and acquisition of defense technologies, systems or equipment, and joint acquisition/production with partner and allied nations. The purpose of armaments cooperation is to leverage foreign technologies, capabilities and investment to support U.S. Army readiness, modernization and interoperability goals.

DASA (DE&C) has the responsibility to:

What are International Armaments Cooperation Activities?

International Armaments Cooperation activities can occur at any point within the Acquisition Life Cycle, from basic and advanced research all the way through cooperative production. Although they are separate and distinct activities, there is often an evolutionary relationship that further advances the level of cooperation with a partner nation.

The U.S. Army seeks out cutting edge and emergent technologies and equipment that can potentially meet a U.S. Army requirement. To find these technologies and products, DASA (DE&C), in conjunction with DASA (R&T) and the Army S&T and acquisition enterprises, attends international air and trade shows and symposia, and conducts in-country visits to academic research institutes, government labs and foreign industry.

Mechanisms for International Armaments Cooperation

Data/Information Exchange
The Army maintains ongoing dialogue with partner countries to ensure alignment among our respective RDT&E programs and avoid duplication of effort. These exchanges occur under framework Master Data/Information Exchange Agreements (MDEA/MIEA), individual DEA/IEAs may be established with a partner nation to exchange basic and advanced research data/information in an area of mutual interest.

Personnel Exchange Programs
The U.S. Army and select partner nations can place the best and brightest engineers and scientists in each other's labs and research facilities to work together on projects such as conducting research in a new technology area, developing a new technology or advancing a specific capability. These exchanges are conducted under the Engineer and Scientist Exchange Program (ESEP) and assignments are typically 1 to 2 years. DASA (DE&C) is the executive agent for the ESEP. 

Cooperative Research
The U.S. Army can cooperate with partner nations in research and development in science and technology that improve our respective defense capabilities. These cooperative projects are conducted under various types of international agreements (e.g., Memoranda of Agreement/Understanding, Project Agreements/Arrangements, etc.) including the Coalition Warfare Program (CWP). Under such projects the U.S. Army and partner countries pool their resources (financial and non-financial) to conduct joint RDT&E to solve problems facing our respective militaries, thus avoiding duplication of effort and gaining insight into novel technical approaches.

Loans for Research and Development
The U.S. Army can loan equipment to, and borrow equipment from, certain countries for RDT&E purposes, at no cost. Under this type of loan, partner countries can borrow U.S. equipment, test it under unique conditions, and provide the U.S. Army with needed test data supporting Army RDT&E, acquisition, interoperability, and other objectives. Conversely, the U.S. Army can borrow from partner countries equipment that we are interested in testing in support of our RDT&E, acquisition and interoperability objectives.

Cooperative Development and Production
The U.S. Army can cooperate with partner countries in the development, testing and production of systems, components, technologies and other items that improve our respective defense capabilities. These cooperative projects are conducted under various types of international agreements (e.g., Memoranda of Agreement/Understanding, Project Agreements/Arrangements, etc.). Under such projects, the U.S. Army and partner countries pool their resources (financial and non-financial) to develop technologies of interest to the U.S. Army and our partners.