[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 74 (Monday, May 1, 2017)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2648-S2649]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
ARMS SALES NOTIFICATION
Mr. CORKER. Mr. President, section 36(b) of the Arms Export Control
Act requires that Congress receive prior notification of certain
proposed arms sales as defined by that statute. Upon such notification,
the Congress has 30 calendar days during which the sale may be
reviewed. The provision stipulates that, in the Senate, the
notification of proposed sales shall be sent to the chairman of the
Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
In keeping with the committee's intention to see that relevant
information is available to the full Senate, I ask unanimous consent to
have printed in the Record the notifications which have been received.
If the cover letter references a classified annex, then such annex is
available to all Senators in the office of the Foreign Relations
Committee, room SD-423.
There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in
the Record, as follows:
Defense Security
Cooperation Agency,
Arlington, VA.
Hon. Bob Corker,
Chairman, Committee on Foreign Relations,
U.S. Senate, Washington, DC.
Dear Mr. Chairman: Pursuant to the reporting requirements
of Section 36(b)(1) of the Arms Export Control Act, as
amended, we are forwarding herewith Transmittal No. 17-07,
concerning the Army's proposed Letter(s) of Offer and
Acceptance to the Government of Kenya for defense articles
and services estimated to cost $253 million. After this
letter is delivered to your office, we plan to issue a news
release to notify the public of this proposed sale.
Sincerely,
J.W. Rixey,
Vice Admiral, USN, Director.
Enclosures:
Transmittal No. 17-07
Notice of Proposed Issuance of Letter of Offer Pursuant to
Section 36(b)(1) of the Arms Export Control Act, as
amended
(i) Prospective Purchaser: Government of Kenya.
(ii) Total Estimated Value:
Major Defense Equipment* $0 million.
Other $253 million.
Total $253 million.
(iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or
Services under Consideration for Purchase:
Maior Defense Equipment (MDE): None.
Non-MDE:
Twelve (12) MD 530F Weaponized Aircraft.
Twenty-four (24) Heavy Machine Gun Pod (HMP) 400 Systems.
Twenty-four (24) M260 Rocket Launchers.
Four thousand and thirty-two (4,032) M151 Rockets.
One thousand five hundred and thirty-six (1,536) 2.75-inch
M274 Smoke signature Warhead Rockets.
Four hundred thousand (400,000) rounds of .50 Caliber
Ammunition.
Also included is communications and navigation equipment,
contractor logistics support, training, U.S. Government
technical assistance, airframe and weapon system spare parts
support. Contractor Field Service Representative (CFSR)
support, and Special Airlift Assignment Mission (SAAM) flight
delivery support.
(iv) Military Department: Army (UDQ).
(v) Prior Related Cases, if any: None.
(vi) Sales Commission, Fee, etc., Paid, Offered, or Agreed
to be Paid: None.
(vii) Sensitivity of Technology Contained in the Defense
Article or Defense Services Proposed to be Sold: None.
(viii) Date Report Delivered to Congress: May 1, 2017.
*As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control
Act.
POLICY JUSTIFICATION
Kenya--MD 530 Aircraft
The Government of Kenya has requested a possible sale of
twelve (12) MD 530F weaponized aircraft to include twenty-
four (24) Heavy Machine Gun Pod (HMP) 400 systems; twenty-
four (24) M260 rocket launchers; four thousand and thirty-two
(4,032) M151 rockets; one thousand five hundred and thirty-
six (1,536) 2.75-inch M274 smoke signature warhead rockets;
and four hundred thousand (400,000) rounds of .50 caliber
ammunition. Also included are communications and navigation
equipment, contractor logistics support, training, U.S.
Government technical assistance, airframe and weapon system
spare parts support, Contractor Field Service Representative
(CFSR) support, and Special Assigned Airlift Mission (SAAM)
flight delivery support. The total estimated cost is $253
million.
This proposed sale contributes to the foreign policy and
national security of the United States by improving the
security of a strong regional partner who is a regional
security leader, undertaking critical operations against al-
Shabaab, and a troop contributor to the African Union Mission
in Somalia (AMISOM).
The proposed sale of the MD 530F helicopters, weapons,
ammunition, support items and technical support will advance
Kenya's efforts to conduct scout and attack rotary wing
aircraft operations in support of their AMISOM mission. The
MD 530F will also replace Kenya's aging MD500 fleet, which is
the current reconnaissance platform supporting Kenyan ground
forces. This sale will significantly enhance the Kenyan
Army's modernization efforts and increase interoperability
with the U.S. Armed Forces and other partners in the region.
Additionally, a strong national defense and dedicated
military force will assist Kenya in its efforts to maintain
stability in East Africa.
Kenya will have no difficulty absorbing this equipment into
its armed forces.
The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not
alter the basic military balance in the region.
The principal contractor will be MD Helicopters, Mesa, AZ.
There are no known offset agreements proposed in connection
with this potential sale.
Implementation of this proposed sale will require the
assignment of approximately twelve (12) additional contractor
representatives in country for a period of 12 months.
There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness
as a result of this proposed sale.
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