Guide
How long does it take to prepare a Foreign Military Sales Letter of Request?
The process begins with the partner defining its requirement, before any case exists. Reaching out to the early helps ensure a future includes the necessary details, and checklists exist to help purchasers write a readily actionable one.
How long does it take to prepare a Letter of Request?
Where the time goes before the Letter of Request
The process begins when the international partner conducts a threat analysis based on its national security objectives. During this assessment, the international partner typically looks at materiel and non-materiel solutions to address mission deficiencies. Non-materiel solutions may involve areas such as military doctrine, force structure, and training philosophy. For potential materiel solutions to defense requirements, the international partner may explore options by seeking information from the about specific systems. An important element of this analysis is for the international partner to quantify system life cycle costs to determine if the potential capability is a viable cost alternative. Normally, there should be ongoing consultations between the international partner and U.S. representatives, especially the in-country U.S. , to assist with defining and refining requirements.
Where the time goes at Letter of Request submission
References
SAMM
- SAMM C5.1.2.1 — Requirements Development.
- SAMM C5.1.1.1
- SAMM C5.2.1.2
Related
Implementing Agency (IA)
The military department or defense agency responsible for the execution of military assistance programs. With respect to FMS, the military department or defense agency assigned responsibility by the Defense Security Cooperation Agency to prepare an LOA and to implement an FMS case. The implementing agency is responsible for the overall management of the actions that will result in delivery of the materials or services set forth in the LOA that was accepted by a foreign country or international organization.
SAMM Glossary, as of 12 September 2026
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
SCO — Security Cooperation Organization
SAMM Acronyms, as of 12 September 2026
DSCA — Defense Security Cooperation Agency
SAMM Acronyms, as of 12 September 2026
Glossary entry →Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) →
LOR — Letter of Request
SAMM Acronyms, as of 12 September 2026
Total Package Approach (TPA)
A means of ensuring that Foreign Military Sales customers are aware of and are given the opportunity to plan for and obtain needed support items, training, and services from the USG contractors, or from within the foreign country's resources which are required to introduce and operationally sustain major items of equipment or systems.
SAMM Glossary, as of 12 September 2026
FMS — Foreign Military Sale
SAMM Acronyms, as of 12 September 2026
Security Cooperation Organization (SCO)
A Department of Defense element that is part of the United States Diplomatic mission located in a foreign country to carry out security assistance and security cooperation management functions under the supervision and coordination authority of the senior defense official/defense attaché.
SAMM Glossary, as of 12 September 2026