Sales of U.S. military hardware to allies reached a record level last fiscal year attendees were told at a symposium and exposition at the Von Braun Center on Tuesday.

The unprecedented surge in America’s allies and partners purchasing U.S. military hardware was one of the first topics discussed to kick off the 2025 AUSA Global Force Symposium and Exposition. The symposium runs through Thursday.

The total value of transferred defense articles and services and security cooperation activities conducted in FY24 was $117 billion, according to the U.S. State Department. That’s a 45% increase from FY23 and the highest ever annual total of sales and assistance provided to our allies and partners.

Some of the hardware was produced in Alabama, including at Huntsville’s Redstone Arsenal.

See story: Alabama has gained $3.7 billion off U.S. aid to Ukraine. Then Trump hit ‘pause’ – al.com

See story: Trump’s Iron Dome order a ‘significant opportunity’ for top missile maker – and Alabama – al.com

Causes for the spike in foreign military sales includes the war in Ukraine and the threat that war brings to NATO’s Eastern Flank, dangerous actions by Iran and its proxies, the Gaza conflict, and threatening behavior by China, according to Brig. Gen. Allen Pepper, a career foreign affairs officer and the commanding general of the U.S. Army Security Assistance Command.

“To borrow a term from the first half of last century, America is once again playing its role as the primary arsenal of democracy,” said Pepper in a USASAC news release.

Pepper and retired Brig. Gen. Chris Tucker, former USASAC commander and the vice president for International Business Development for L3Harris Technologies, co-presented the first Warriors Corner briefing during the three-day conference. Their presentation recommended solutions to improve FMS timelines, collaboration and synchronization.

“One way the Army and industry can work together to reduce contract timing is through an IDIQ or Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity contract,” said Tucker. “An IDIQ offers flexibility in government procurement simplifying the process and reducing the time and effort required for each individual order.”

Pepper noted that despite the challenges that ongoing FMS reforms are attempting to tackle, USASAC remains committed to working with Army Security Assistance Enterprise stakeholders to meet partners’ needs and the increased global demand.

“The United States remains the partner of choice for other nations looking for reliable international partners, and we will not overlook our obligation to provide the very best, the most timely and transparent customer service we have to offer,” he said.

This year’s symposium theme is “Driving Continuous Transformation of Ready Combat Formations.” Special guest presentations and panel discussions from senior military and industry leaders, address critical points of research and development, acquisition and contracting, force sustainment, and industry partnerships.

To view the livestreamed FMS presentation, visit USASAC’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/usasac. To view the complete lineup of livestreamed presentations, visit https://www.dvidshub.net/feature/ausaglobal