---
kind: "section"
citation: "10 U.S.C. § 127c"
title: "10"
title_heading: "Armed Forces"
number: "127c"
heading: "Purchase of weapons overseas: force protection"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/10/127c"
units:
  - "Subtitle A — General Military Law"
  - "Part I — Organization and General Military Powers"
  - "Chapter 3 — General Powers and Functions"
---

# §127c. Purchase of weapons overseas: force protection

- (a) **Authority.—** When elements of the [armed forces](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-4) are engaged in ongoing [military](/usc/10/801.md?p=8) operations in a country, the [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) of Defense may, for the purpose of protecting [United States](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-1) forces in that country, purchase weapons from any foreign [person](/usc/10/2700.md?p=2), 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)](#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](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) 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)](#a) during that six-month period covered by the report, together with the amount spent for those weapons and the [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3)’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)](#a).

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 109–163, div. A, title XII, § 1231(a), Jan. 6, 2006, 119 Stat. 3467.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Codification

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