Do We Give It to Them, and What Happens If We Do? Issues Concerning Technology Transfers

What happens when a technologically advanced nation provides advanced technology to a much less advanced nation’s military? Numerous political and diplomatic considerations go into the decision to provide the technology, but once the decision is made, military leaders somewhere will find themselves dealing with the process and its effects. This paper analyzes some of the considerations for developing the plan of implementation, training and sustainment of new technology in the hands of less technologically developed militaries. The analysis divides the considerations into the categories of: capabilities (how well the country’s infrastructure can sustain the new technology), foundations (the academic environment in the host country), and traditions (how culture might impact adopting new technology). Armed with this understanding, leaders charged with transferring new technology, training indigenous forces, or working with coalition forces with newly acquired technology should be better prepared to deal with the unique challenges the recipient military may face.