Soviet Foreign Military Sales: Why are they so 'Cheap'

摘要

A review of the history of the Soviet Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program and the Soviet economic system form the background for a discussion of the motivations behind the large FMS to the Third World. A hypothesis that the Soviets could not significantly reduce its FMS program even if its leadership desired it to, is presented. It is then evaluated by discussing the forces on FMS both from an international and domestic perspective. These perspectives are further subdivided into political and economic types of forces. It is suggested that the hypothesis is true due to the strength of the economic motivations which tend to sustain military production and thus FMS at high levels. (Author)