US Foreign Material Exploitation Programs (FMEPs) covertly and overtly acquire and analyse US adversaries’ military and civilian equipment. With a history going back to WWII, these programs are essential to the US’s understanding of opponents’ capabilities. From civilian technology to top-secret weapons programs, the acquisition of these technologies and their related data is critical to maintaining the US defence community’s primacy in the global order.
1 What is Foreign Material Exploitation?
Foreign Material Exploitation (FME) and its associated programs are defined as the
‘overt or covert acquisition and analysis of military and civilian hardware and equipment.’
This acquisition of equipment and knowledge fits into a broader field of intelligence known as scientific and technical intelligence (TECHINT).
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1.1 TECHINT within the Intelligence Community
Within the intelligence community, TECHINT is commonly defined as involving:
- Foreign developments in basic and applied research in natural and applied sciences, and in applied engineering techniques
- Scientific and technical characteristics, capabilities, and limitations of all foreign military systems
- This involves:
- Weapons
- Weapon systems
- Material, research and the production methods of the above
- This involves:
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1.2 Key Components of US FMEP
There are several major organisations within the US intelligence architecture that directly support or organise FMEPs. These include:
1.2.1 National Air and Space Intelligence Centre
The National Air and Space Intelligence Centre (Also known as NASIC) is a USAF unit which analyses military intelligence on foreign powers’ air forces, weapons and their associated systems.
As per their website, NASIC’s mission is to
“Discover and characterise air, space, missile and cyber threats to enable full spectrum multi-domain operations, drive weapon system acquisition, and inform national defence policy”.
NASIC provides “engineering-level” intelligence on a variety of threats which US forces may face, including air, space, missile and cyber.
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1.2.2 National Ground Intelligence Centre
The National Ground Intelligence Centre (NGIC) is a part of the US Army Intelligence and Security Command (INSCOM). NGIC provides scientific and technical intelligence on foreign ground forces, much like NASIC’s focus on air and space intelligence.
A core mission of the NGIC is to run the US Army’s Foreign Materiel Exploitation Programs (FMEPs).
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2 Activities in support of FMEP’s
FMEP’s primary focus is on the physical acquisition of technologies, both military and civilian, but several intelligence disciplines support FME programs. These include:
- IMINT – Imagery Intelligence relies on satellites, advanced high-altitude air platforms (such as the SR-71 and U2), and drones to collect visual information, including dimensions and other technical specs of military hardware, for analysis.
- MASINT – Measurement and Signature Intelligence involves the detection, tracking, identification, and also measurement of distinctive signatures of military hardware, equipment, buildings, etc. This includes telemetry interception, acoustic analysis, and collection of trace elements pointing to CBRN (Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear) activity.
- HUMINT – Human Intelligence, which includes the acquisition of technical documents, ground photography, and other clandestinely acquired data from human sources, including defectors.
- SIGINT – Signals Intelligence involves the interception and analysis of signals. This includes communications between people and organisations (COMINT – Communications Intelligence). It can also include electronic signals that are not directly used for communications. Examples of these are radars and also missile guidance system emanations (ELINT – Electronic Intelligence).
3 History of US FMEPs
US FMEP’s history began in WWII with the acquisition of technology created by the National Socialist government of Germany, an activity which is also reflected in today’s efforts to acquire Russian technology in the Ukraine war.
3.1 US FMEPs in WW2
During World War II, the US—alongside the U.K.—was heavily involved in the acquisition and exploitation of technology developed by the Germans and other Axis powers:
3.1.1 Japan
Heavy fighting in the Pacific theatre of WW2 provided the U.S. with several occasions to procure and evaluate Japanese aircraft. This includes:
- Mitsubishi A6M “Zeke” I – A “Zeke” aircraft, which took part in an attack on the US base at Dutch Harbour in the Aleutian Islands, was forced to land and was recovered by the US Navy. It was transferred to NAS North Island, California, where it was repaired and, in September 1942, it made its first post-capture flight. Over the next several months, US pilots evaluated its performance by making mock combat flights against a variety of US Navy aircraft. [source]
- Mitsubishi A6M “Zeke” II – In early 1943, a joint group of personnel from the US Navy, Army Air Forces, Royal Australian Air Force and also, the British Royal Navy (known as the TAIU), rebuilt a “Zeke” using parts of five different aircraft that were captured in Banu, New Guinea. The completed aircraft was test flown and shown to be superior to the Spitfire V below 20,000 feet. It was later transported to the US and flown, and evaluated at Wright Field. [source]
Other Japanese Aircraft
- Other Aircraft – Other Japanese aircraft were also acquired and transported to a variety of testing areas such as NAS Anacostia, Wright Field and Freeman Field. These include:
- “Zeke” – Mitsubishi A6M Zero-Sen Navy Type Zero Carrier Fighter
- “Tony” – Kawasaki Ki-61 Hien Army Type 3 Fighter
- “Tojo” – Nakajima Ki-44 Shoki Army Type 2 Single-Seat Fighter
- “George” – Kawanishi N1K1-J/N1K2-J Shiden Navy Land-Based Interceptor
- “Frank” – Nakajima Ki-84 Hayate Army Type 4 Fighter
- “Jack” – Mitsubishi J2M Raiden Navy Interceptor Fighter
- “Nick” – Kawasaki Ki-45 Toryu Army Type 2 Two-Seat Fighter
- “Kate” – Nakajima B5N Navy Type 97 Carrier Attack Bomber
- “Jill” – Nakajima B6N Tenzan Navy Carrier Torpedo Bomber
- “Judy” – Yokosuka D4Y Suisei Navy Carrier Dive bomber
- “Betty” – Mitsubishi G4M Navy Type 1 Land-based Attack Aircraft
- “Tabby” – Showa/Nakajima L2D Navy Type 0 Transport
- “Dinah” – Mitsubishi Ki-46 Type 100 Command Reconnaissance Aircraft
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3.1.2 Germany
The U.S. captured and exploited several German technologies and vehicles during WW2. These included:
V-1
The US reverse-engineered the German V-1 flying bomb from salvaged parts, which were recovered in England in June 1944. By 8 September, a prototype, the Republic-Ford JB-2, was complete, and a navalised version known as the KGW-1 was then also developed to be launched from ships. Both of these prototypes were put into production and were scheduled to be used in Operation Downfall, the planned Allied invasion of Japan that never occurred. They were placed into storage and later played a significant role in the development of surface-to-surface tactical missile systems such as the MGM-1 Matador and the SSM-N-8 Regulus.
Operation LUSTY & Watson’s “Whizzers”
Operation LUSTY (“Luftwaffe Secret Technology”) was the USAF’s program to capture and evaluate German air technology during the Second World War. Composed of two teams, Op LUSTY aimed to capture and exploit German scientific documents, research facilities and aircraft.
Colonel Harold E. Watson and his crew of intelligence experts, pilots and engineers, nicknamed Whatsons “Whizzers,” collected both jet aircraft and piston-engine aircraft developed by the Luftwaffe.
Op LUSTY and Watson’s “Whizzers” were responsible for the capture and exploitation of several aircraft. This includes:
- Junkers Ju 290
- Heinkel He 177A-7
- Arado Ar 234
- Dornier Do 335
- Heinkel He 219A
- Junkers Ju 388
- Junkers Ju 388L-1
(H5) Operation Paperclip
Operation Paperclip was a top-secret US intelligence program that was launched towards the end of WW2 to recruit German scientists, engineers and also technicians, many of whom were involved in the German rocket program.
Conducted by the Joint Intelligence Objectives Agency (JIOA), its efforts were aimed at denying the Soviet Union of these personnel’s expertise and harnessing their knowledge to develop US military and aerospace projects.
Over 1600 German specialists were brought to the US, including infamous figures such as Wernher von Braun, the lead developer of the V-2 rocket. Their expertise directly contributed to US missile technology, jet aviation, chemical weapons research, and gave rise to the US space program.
3.2 US FMEPs in the Korean War
During the Korean War, US and allied forces captured and studied North Korean & Soviet equipment on a number of occasions. One of these was the capture of a Russian (Soviet) made M-1944 (KS-18) 85mm anti-aircraft (AA) gun from North Korean Forces in the village of Chuchon-ni, Korea.
The other occasion in which this occurred was known as Operation Moolah.
3.2.1 Operation Moolah
Operation Moolah was a USAF effort during the Korean War that aimed to capture a Soviet MiG-15 through the defection of a pilot. Reports from USAF pilots during the conflict stated that the MiG-15 was superior to all UN aircraft, including the F-86 Sabre.
Although there was a $100,000 ($1,340,448 in 2025) reward, the plan did not come to fruition during the conflict. This was due to the fact that no communist pilot defected before the signing of the armistice. However, on 21 September 1953, North Korean MiG-15 pilot Lieutenant No Kum-Sok defected to South Korea. He landed at the Kimpo Air Base and was reportedly unaware of Operation Moolah.
3.3 US FMEPs in the 1960s
During the 1960s, there were several occasions and attempts to capture either physical equipment or the technological details regarding enemy equipment by the US. This includes:
3.3.1 North Vietnam
During the Vietnam War, USAF forces were heavily targeted by advanced Soviet-made AA systems. These were deployed by North Vietnam deep in the jungle, making acquisition of a working system unviable. Consequently, in support of FMEPs, the USAF deployed reconnaissance and ELINT aircraft to remotely record details of these weapons.
In mid-July 1965, an RB-66C ELINT aircraft captured signals from an SA-2’s target acquisition radar system. On 23 July, another ELINT aircraft intercepted signals from the Fan Song target tracking radar. The following day, a North Vietnamese SAM killed one of the RB-66C ELINT aircraft after it had acquired signals.
On 13 February 1966, a flight by a Ryan 147E Firebee unmanned vehicle managed to gather information about the SA-2’s proximity fusing system, its terminal phase guidance and additionally, the characteristics of its warheads’ explosion at detonation.
The information gathered by this and further Firebee drone flights led to the development of improved ECM (electronic countermeasure) systems. These were then incorporated into tactical aircraft and B-52 bombers.
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3.3.2 Six-Day War
During the Six-Day War between Israel, Egypt, Syria, Jordan and Iraq, Israeli forces captured a complete SA-6 missile unit. Captured on the west bank of the Suez, it was described as:
“the one type of weapon used in the Middle East war of which the United States forces had no first-hand knowledge or experience.”
Although there are no verified reports of the system being transferred to the US and being exploited as a part of an FMEP, government sources at the time said it was
“Likely that the SA-6 unit would be brought to the US, where new counter-measures can be tested against it.”
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3.3.3 Have Doughnut
“Have Doughnut” was the name of a DIA project that aimed to exploit and evaluate a MiG-21 “Fishbed-E”. It was acquired by the USAF in 1967 from Israel. Israel managed to acquire the MiG-21 due to Operation Diamond, which involved the Mossad-arranged defection of Iraqi Air Force pilot Capt. Munir Redfa.
During Have Doughnut, USAF and US Navy pilots evaluated the MiG-21, redesignated as the “YF-110,” at Groom Lake (Area 51).
The project’s name came from the doughnut-shaped intake at the nose of the aircraft.
(H4) 3.3.4 Project Azorian
Project Azorian was a top-secret CIA effort to recover a sunken Soviet submarine from the floor of the Pacific Ocean during the Cold War.
In 1968, a Soviet Golf II-class submarine, K-129, armed with three SS-N-4 nuclear-armed ballistic missiles, sank 1800 miles northwest of Hawaii. After the Soviets abandoned their recovery efforts, the CIA, with the support of the DoD, began a recovery mission to access the submarine to study its capabilities.
The operation required CIA engineers to lift a 1750-tonne, 132-foot-long portion of the submarine from the ocean floor, which was more than three miles down.
In 1970, the engineers realised that the only way to recover the sub was to winch it up using a claw-like system. This claw system was attached to a surface recovery ship, the Glomar Explorer, funded by Howard Hughes. This claw recovery system was constructed over a period of four years and was built under a roof in order to preserve secrecy. Once loaded onto the ship, the recovery vehicle arrived at the site of the sunken sub on 4 July 1974 and conducted salvage operations lasting two months.
However, during the recovery, when the submarine was about halfway up, it broke apart. The other portion of it sank, leaving the CIA with a partial recovery.
The existence of Project Azorian was exposed due to documents being stolen from the office of Howard Hughes, a billionaire who built the Hughes Glomar Explorer. Once the existence of Project Azorian was exposed in the media, the CIA cancelled further recovery operations.
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Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse
Elements of the Glomar Explorer’s claw mechanism and recovery system that were used during Project Azorian were also deployed aboard the Chesapeake 1000 recovery and salvage ship used to clean up the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge in 2024.
3.4 US FMEPs in the 1970s
3.4.1 Have Drill
Have Drill was the name of a US Defence Intelligence Agency project which aimed to evaluate and develop tactics against the Soviet-designed and produced MiG-17 aircraft. Much like the earlier Have Doughnut, Have Drill involved the acquisition of the aircraft from Israel.
In 1968, a Syrian Air Force MiG-17 landed in Betzet, Northern Israel, mistaking it for Lebanon. Israel transferred the aircraft to the US. Here it received USAF designations and became part of the USAF Tactical Fighter Weapons Centre Area 51 test fleet.
All naval pilots who were involved in test flights against the MiG-17 lost their first engagements with it. This was due to the overconfidence of the US pilots, owing to the MiG’s age. The aircraft had great manoeuvrability, even at low altitude.
As a result of this test Naval Grumman A-6 Intruder, LTV A-7 Corsair II and Douglas A-4 Skyhawks were recommended to avoid combat with the MiG-17. However, the F-4 Phantom II had enough thrust to accelerate out of the range of the MiG-17. This resulted in tactics changing: the F-4 was to accelerate out of gun range of the MiG and engage with air-to-air missiles. This change allowed the Navy’s kill ratio against the MiG-17 to rise from 2.75:1 to 8.33:1.
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3.6 US FMEPs in the 1990s
3.6.1 S300 Launcher
The S300 is a family of Russian-designed surface-to-air missile (SAM) systems. Originally designed in the Soviet Union during the 1960s and 70s, it has been compared to the US Patriot missile system.
In 1994, the United States acquired parts of the S300-P system from Belarus. And in 1995, several missiles, launchers and command and control elements were also purchased. These were then tested.
In 2023, it was reported that the US would transfer older captured and acquired Soviet systems, including the Belarusian S300’s to Ukraine to aid its air defence network. However, in 2025, some of Ukraine’s last S-300 air defence systems were destroyed in a Russian Iskander-M ballistic missile strike.
3.6.2 Gulf War
During the closing stages of the Gulf War, samples of the Iraqi armoured forces were gathered and sent to the British Defence Research Agency’s testing site at Chertsey and also the American National Ground Intelligence Centre at Charlottesville and the Aberdeen Proving Ground.
Numerous types of armoured vehicles, such as Chinese Type 69-II tanks with laser range finders and Type 653 recovery vehicles, were exploited for research purposes by both the US and Britain.
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3.9 Ongoing US FMEPs
In August, the U.S. Government released a Request For Information (RFI) seeking a “1:1 copy” of Iran’s Shahed-136 attack drone, aka Geran-2, which has been deployed in Ukraine by the Russian armed forces to overwhelm and confuse opposition air defences. These drones would not be incorporated into the US military as attack drones but would be used to train existing systems and develop tactics against the Iranian platform.
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4 Conclusion & The future of US FMEPs
Foreign Material Exploitation Programs (FMEPs) are usually covert, but can be overt, programs that are aimed at the acquisition and evaluation of adversarial nations’ technologies and equipment. Aimed at the study of enemy nations’ technologies, these programs are essential to the development of doctrines that have saved the lives of countless US and allied personnel and led to the development of counter-technologies.
The past success of FMEPs almost certainly secures their continuation. This is as Russia, China, and other adversaries continue to develop technology at a pace and to a level that sometimes surpasses US equivalents.
Whether this is through direct purchasing of equipment through shadow companies, such as the acquisition of the S-300 from Belarus, the transferring of equipment from allied nations, such as Ukraine transferring downed Russian missiles and drones, or the direct recovery of downed equipment, FMEP’s will almost certainly continue to provide the U.S. and its allies with a better understanding of adversaries’ technologies and the means to counter them.