The exemption for technical data transfers to support FMS cases is very interesting. Normally, technical data associated with FMS equipment is either rolled up into an omnibus FMS case or handled as a separate FMS action. Either way, the Aussies would have to pay the FMS processing fee that comes with using the system. It looks like the Aussies will be able to get their FMS item-related technical data for free now.

As for ‘highly-sensitive exports,’ even someone on the inside like me couldn’t tell you. The ‘highly sensitive’ stamp tends to be used in a pretty haphazard fashion — basically whatever the folks at DTSA, OSD(P) and OSD(AT&L) think at the time of export.