Guide
What are the Foreign Military Sales process steps?
A Foreign Military Sale moves through ten stages: pre-Letter of Request engagement, the and its assessment, case development, a Congressional Notification gate that applies only when the case meets the thresholds, the offer, the partner's acceptance, implementation, execution, and reconciliation and closure. The case development standard expects 85% of Letters of Offer and Acceptance to be offered within 45 days to 150 days of the request depending on case category, and the accelerated closure goal is 24 months after the case is supply/services complete for all but training cases.
The Foreign Military Sales process in ten stages, numbered 00 to 09. A divider separates engagement from the case: the Letter of Request starts the case, and the panel under it lists the comment period on an LOR Advisory and the case development standards for Categories A to D. Congressional Notification is the conditional gate, applying only when a case meets an AECA §36(b) threshold; the second panel lists those thresholds and the statutory review period for the two purchaser groups. On the site, each box links to its stage page.
What are the Foreign Military Sales process steps?
The process is complex and, for a major sale, may last for many years.
References
SAMM
- SAMM C5 — C5 - Foreign Military Sales Planning and Case Development
- SAMM C5.1 — Pre-Letter of Request Activities.
- SAMM C5.2 — Letter of Request Submissions.
- SAMM C5.6 — Letter of Request Responses - Letter of Offer and Acceptance
- SAMM C5.6.2 — Letter of Offer and Acceptance Document Preparation Timeframe.
- SAMM C5.6.11 — Coordination and Countersignature of Letter of Offer and Acceptance Documents.
- SAMM C5.6.12 — Pen and Ink Changes.
- SAMM C5.6.13 — Letter of Offer and Acceptance Implementation.
- SAMM C5.7 — Congressional Notification - Arms Export Control Act 36(b) for Security Assistance Programs.
- SAMM C5.T18 — Thresholds for 36(b) Congressional Notification
- SAMM C6 — C6 - Foreign Military Sales Case Implementation and Execution
- SAMM C6.1 — Case Implementation
- SAMM C6.2 — Case Execution - General Information
- SAMM C16 — C16 - Case Reconciliation and Closure
- SAMM C16.1 — Overview.
- SAMM C16.2 — Reconciliation.
- SAMM C16.3 — Closure.
Public authorities
Facts referenced
- Case development standard — share of documents expected to meet the standard — 85% (as of 11 September 2026) — SAMM C5.T9
- Case development standard — Category A (blanket order, CLSSA) — 45 days (as of 11 September 2026) — SAMM C5.T9
- Case development standard — Category C (defined order with complicating factors) — 150 days (as of 11 September 2026) — SAMM C5.T9
- ACCP closure goal after Supply/Services Complete — all cases other than training — 24 months (as of 11 September 2026) — SAMM C16.3
Related
Letter of Request (LOR)
The term used to identify a request from an eligible FMS participant country for the purchase of U.S. defense articles and services. The request may be in message or letter format.
SAMM Glossary, 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
FMS — Foreign Military Sale
SAMM Acronyms, as of 12 September 2026
Weapon System
A combination of one or more weapons with all related equipment, materials, services, personnel, and means of delivery and deployment (if applicable) required for self-sufficiency.
SAMM Glossary, as of 12 September 2026