[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 178 (Thursday, November 2, 2017)]
[Senate]
[Page S6997]
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. 17-22,
concerning the Department of the Air Force's proposed
Letter(s) of Offer and Acceptance to the Government of Qatar
for defense articles and services estimated to cost $1.1
billion. After this letter is delivered to your office, we
plan to issue a news release to notify the public of this
proposed sale.
Sincerely,
Charles W. Hooper, Lieutenant General, USA, Director.
Enclosures.
Transmittal No. 17-22
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 Qatar
(ii) Total Estimated Value:
Major Defense Equipment* $ 0 billion.
Other $ 1.1 billion.
TOTAL $ 1.1 billion.
(iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or
Services under Consideration for Purchase:
Major Defense Equipment (MDE): None
Non-MDE: Design and construction services, new parking/
loading ramps, hot cargo pads, taxiways, hangars, back shops,
alert facilities, weapons storage areas, hardened shelters,
squadron operations facilities, maintenance facilities,
training facilities, information technology support and cyber
facilities, force protection support facilities, squadron
operations facilities, other F-15QA related support
structures, construction/facilities/design services,
cybersecurity services, mission critical computer resources,
support services, force protection services, and other
related elements of logistics and program support.
(iv) Military Department: Air Force (X7-D-QAL).
(v) Prior Related Cases, if any:
Air Force: QA-D-SAC, QA-D-TAH, QA-D-YAB.
Navy: QA-P-AAG, QA-P-AAE, QA-P-AAH, QA-P-LAC, QA-P-LAE.
(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: November 1, 2017.
*As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control
Act.
POLICY JUSTIFICATION
Qatar--F-15QA Construction, Cybersecurity, and Force Protection
Infrastructure
The Government of Qatar has requested support of its F-15QA
multi-role fighter aircraft program to include design and
construction services, new parking/loading ramps, hot cargo
pads, taxiways, hangars, back shops, alert facilities,
weapons storage areas, hardened shelters, squadron operations
facilities, maintenance facilities, training facilities,
information technology support and cyber facilities, force
protection support facilities, squadron operations
facilities, other F-15QA related support structures,
construction/facilities/design services, cybersecurity
services, mission critical computer resources, support
services, force protection services, and other related
elements of logistics and program support. The estimated cost
is $1.1 billion.
This proposed sale supports the foreign policy and national
security objectives of the United States. Qatar is an
important force for political stability and economic progress
in the Persian Gulf region. Our mutual defense interests
anchor our relationship and the Qatar Emiri Air Force (QEAF)
plays a predominant role in Qatar's defense.
The proposed sale improves Qatar's capability to operate
and sustain its F-15QA aircraft. A robust construction,
cybersecurity, and force protection infrastructure is vital
to ensuring the QEAF partners can utilize the F-15QA aircraft
to its full potential. Qatar will have no difficulty
absorbing this support into its armed forces.
The proposed sale of this construction, cybersecurity, and
force protection infrastructure will not alter the basic
military balance in the region.
The prime contractor for construction, cybersecurity, and
force protection infrastructure will be determined through
competition. The purchaser typically requests offsets. Any
offset agreement will be defined in negotiations between the
purchaser and the contractor.
Implementation of the construction, cybersecurity, and
force protection aspects of this notification include the
establishment of a construction office in Doha with as many
as ten (10) U.S. Government civilians which will adjust in
size as case workload varies. Anticipated contractor
footprint for this effort is approximately fifteen (15) to
fifty (50) personnel, which may vary based on phases of
construction and establishment of required services.
There will be no adverse impact to U.S. defense readiness
as a result of this proposed sale.
____________________