The Aerospace Industries Association has called on the State Department to develop and implement a plan to speed up transactions that aim to help the country meet its security cooperation priorities.AIA wrote a Tuesday letter to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo saying it made the recommendation in response to a call for feedback on the proposed action plan for the implementation of a presidential memorandum issued in April.
The presidential memo seeks to create a new policy on conventional arms transfers in support of the country’s national security and economic interests.
AIA recommends the establishment of “senior-level oversight mechanisms†to advance accountability for the assessment and approval of defense exports.
The association also offered specific recommendations such as the development of a financing process for defense exports; introduction of contracting reforms to the foreign military sales process; and creation of a program licensing framework to streamline defense trade with allies and partners.
Eric Fanning, AIA president and CEO, signed the letter with Thomas Kennedy, Raytheon chairman and CEO and AIA chairman; and William Brown, Harris chairman, president and CEO and vice chairman of AIA.
