Embracing Non-Traditional Solutions: Evolving Security Cooperation for the Modern Threat Environment

Abstract

Advancing burden-sharing and enhancing the resilience among partners requires the security cooperation enterprise to open the aperture to a wider array of technologies and solutions. The security cooperation enterprise’s near-exclusive reliance on “traditional” solutions covered by programs of record to build partner nation capabilities under-values the criticality of commercial technologies in modern warfighting. Further, neo-primes and early-stage defense technology companies are rapidly developing new military-unique technologies that may not become a program of record but could prove useful to allies and partners. The increasingly perilous threat environment, compounded by the pace of technological change, means the security cooperation enterprise must accelerate efforts to help partners acquire non-program of record solutions. As the security cooperation enterprise undergoes significant changes (i.e., Defense Security Cooperation Agency’s realignment to the Undersecretary of War for Acquisition & Sustainment) now is an opportune time to evolve the Department’s approach to security cooperation to leverage these defense technology opportunities. There are some practical steps that the Department could take immediately. For example, organizations steeped in commercial technology and innovation (e.g., the Defense Innovation Unit) should be formally incorporated into the security cooperation enterprise and resourced to support security cooperation initiatives. However, bolder steps to create entirely new acquisition pathways for allies and partners should also be considered. Authorities could be revised to allow foreign military financing to be used by all allies and partners to procure certain technologies through direct commercial contracts. Marketplaces of vetted, trusted technologies would allow allies and partners to more quickly acquire new capabilities. Adopting a portfolio-like approaches to aligning partner nation requirements with technical expertise resident in the Foreign Area Officer community could also enable security cooperation organizations to more effectively identify and implement solutions for partner nations.