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Title 10, Armed ForcesRelease 119-110

§127c Purchase of Weapons Overseas: Force Protection

Title 10 › Subtitle A — General Military Law › PART I — ORGANIZATION AND GENERAL MILITARY POWERS › CHAPTER 3 — GENERAL POWERS AND FUNCTIONS › § 127c

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretary of Defense may buy weapons inside a country where U.S. forces are carrying out ongoing military operations. The purchases can be made from any local person, government, international group, or other entity in that country. The purpose is to protect U.S. forces. Spending for these purchases cannot be more than $15,000,000 in any one fiscal year. If the authority is used in either the first or second half of a fiscal year, the Secretary must send a report to the Senate and House Armed Services Committees within 30 days after that six-month period ends. The report must say how many and what kinds of weapons were bought, how much was spent, an estimate of their fair market value, and any dispositions of those weapons during that period.

Full Legal Text

Title 10, §127c

Armed Forces, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Authority.—
When elements of the armed forces are engaged in ongoing military operations in a country, the Secretary of Defense may, for the purpose of protecting United States forces in that country, purchase weapons from any foreign person, foreign government, international organization, or other entity located in that country.
(b)Limitation.—
The total amount expended during any fiscal year for purchases under this section may not exceed $15,000,000.
(c)Semiannual Congressional Report.—
In any case in which the authority provided in subsection (a) is used during the period of the first six months of a fiscal year, or during the period of the second six months of a fiscal year, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate and Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives a report on the use of that authority during that six-month period. Each such report shall be submitted not later than 30 days after the end of the six-month period during which the authority is used. Each such report shall include the following:
(1)The number and type of weapons purchased under subsection (a) during that six-month period covered by the report, together with the amount spent for those weapons and the Secretary’s estimate of the fair market value of those weapons.
(2)A description of the dispositions (if any) during that six-month period of weapons purchased under subsection (a).

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Codification Another section 127c was renumbered section 127d of this title prior to being renumbered section 331 of this title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

10 U.S.C. § 127c

Title 10, Armed Forces

Last Updated

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110