U.S.-Japan Cooperative Development: Progress on FS-X Program Enhances Japanese Aerospace Capabilities
NSIAD-95-145
Published: Aug 11, 1995. Publicly Released: Aug 11, 1995.
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Highlights
GAO examined the U.S.-Japan FS-X program, focusing on: (1) the program's status; (2) U.S. government and contractor controls over technical data and hardware given to Japan; (3) the transfer of program technology from Japan to the United States; and (4) the benefits the program has provided to the Japanese and U.S. aerospace industries.
Recommendations
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Department of Commerce | To ensure compliance with FS-X releasability guidelines and oversight of FS-X related exports to Japan, the Secretaries of State, Commerce, and Defense should direct the appropriate offices within their departments to develop and implement written, formal procedures for sharing information about export license applications to Japan that are potentially related to the FS-X program. These procedures should, among other things: (1) require State to refer all FS-X munitions license applications to DOD for review; (2) provide sufficient information for F-16 System Program Office personnel to adequately monitor FS-X related export license applications to Japan; (3) require Commerce to provide DOD information on Individual Validated Licenses for exports to Japan of equipment or data with existing or potential uses on military aircraft; and (4) provide program office personnel online access to the DOD Foreign Disclosure and Technical Information System; |
Closed – Implemented
The Department of State has entered into its policy guidance book the requirement that all FS-X related licenses be sent to the Department of Defense for review. GAO believes that the intent of the recommendation has been met because the Departments of State, Commerce, and Defense have taken actions to share information.
|
| Department of Defense | To ensure compliance with FS-X releasability guidelines and oversight of FS-X related exports to Japan, the Secretaries of State, Commerce, and Defense should direct the appropriate offices within their departments to develop and implement written, formal procedures for sharing information about export license applications to Japan that are potentially related to the FS-X program. These procedures should, among other things: (1) require State to refer all FS-X munitions license applications to DOD for review; (2) provide sufficient information for F-16 System Program Office personnel to adequately monitor FS-X related export license applications to Japan; (3) require Commerce to provide DOD information on Individual Validated Licenses for exports to Japan of equipment or data with existing or potential uses on military aircraft; and (4) provide program office personnel online access to the DOD Foreign Disclosure and Technical Information System; |
Closed – Implemented
The Department of State has entered into its policy guidance book the requirement that all FS-X related licenses be sent to the Department of Defense for review. GAO believes that the intent of the recommendation has been met because the Departments of State, Commerce, and Defense have taken actions to share information.
|
| Department of State | To ensure compliance with FS-X releasability guidelines and oversight of FS-X related exports to Japan, the Secretaries of State, Commerce, and Defense should direct the appropriate offices within their departments to develop and implement written, formal procedures for sharing information about export license applications to Japan that are potentially related to the FS-X program. These procedures should, among other things: (1) require State to refer all FS-X munitions license applications to DOD for review; (2) provide sufficient information for F-16 System Program Office personnel to adequately monitor FS-X related export license applications to Japan; (3) require Commerce to provide DOD information on Individual Validated Licenses for exports to Japan of equipment or data with existing or potential uses on military aircraft; and (4) provide program office personnel online access to the DOD Foreign Disclosure and Technical Information System; |
Closed – Implemented
The Department of State has entered into its policy guidance book the requirement that all FS-X related licenses be sent to the Department of Defense for review. GAO believes that the intent of the recommendation has been met because the Departments of State, Commerce, and Defense have taken actions to share information.
|
| Department of Defense | To ensure effective evaluation of transferred Japanese FS-X technologies, the Secretary of Defense should direct the Defense Science Board to establish and convene an FS-X Technology Transfer Evaluation Task Force. To the extent the FS-X agreements and Defense Science Board Charter permit, this Task Force should include U.S. government and industry FS-X officials. To the maximum extent possible, consistent with the agreements, representatives of the four services and of leading U.S. aerospace companies who have expertise in fighter aircraft (including the F-22), composite applications, or potential commercial uses for FS-X technologies should be included on the Task Force. |
Closed – Not Implemented
The Defense Science Board decided that it was not the appropriate agency to evaluate the technologies. However, other U.S. government entities and industry have taken part in technology visits to Japan to evaluate the technologies.
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Aerospace engineeringAerospace industryExportingFighter aircraftForeign technical aidInformation disclosureInternational relationsMilitary coproduction agreementsTechnical assistanceTechnology transfer