[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 81 (Thursday, May 17, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2768-S2769]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
MORNING BUSINESS
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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. 17-37,
concerning the Air Force's proposed Letter(s) of Offer and
Acceptance to the Government of Bahrain for defense articles
and services estimated to cost $45 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,
Gregory M. Kausner
(for Charles W. Hooper, Lieutenant
General, USA, Director).
Enclosures.
transmittal no. 17-37
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 Bahrain
(ii) Total Estimated Value:
Major Defense Equipment * $38 million.
Other $7 million.
Total $45 million.
(iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or
Services under Consideration for Purchase:
Major Defense Equipment (MDE):
One thousand five hundred (1,500) MK-82 (500lbs) General
Purpose (GP) Bomb Bodies.
Six hundred (600) MK-83 (1,000lbs) GP Bomb Bodies.
Six hundred (600) MK-84 (2,000lbs) GP Bomb Bodies.
Five hundred (500) BLU-109 (2,000lbs) Penetrator Warhead
Bomb Bodies.
Non-MDE includes: Also included are spares, and repair
parts, support equipment, personnel training and training
equipment, shipping and logistics services, publications and
technical documentation, U.S. Government and contractor
technical support services, containers, munitions components,
test equipment, and other related elements of logistics and
program support.
(iv) Military Department: Air Force (X7-D-AAN).
(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 17, 2018.
* As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control
Act.
policy justification
Government of Bahrain--Munitions
The Government of Bahrain has requested three thousand two
hundred (3,200) General Purpose (GP) and Penetrator Warhead
bomb bodies to include: one thousand five hundred (1,500) MK-
82 (500lbs) GP bomb bodies, six hundred (600) MK-83
(1,000lbs) GP bomb bodies, six hundred (600) MK-84 (2,000lbs)
GP
[[Page S2769]]
bomb bodies, and five hundred (500) BLU-109 (2,000lbs)
Penetrator Warhead bomb bodies. Also included are spares and
repair parts, support equipment, personnel training and
training equipment, shipping and logistics services,
publications and technical documentation, U.S. Government and
contractor technical support services, containers, munitions
components, test equipment, and other related elements of
logistics and program support. The estimated total cost is
$45 million.
This proposed sale will enhance the foreign policy and
national security objectives of the United States by helping
to improve the security of a major non-NATO ally which is an
important security partner in the region. The purchase of
these munitions will bolster the Royal Bahraini Air Force's
ability to conduct and sustain air operations with its F-16
combat aircraft. Our mutual defense interests anchor our
relationship and the Royal Bahraini Air Force plays a
significant role in Bahrain's defense.
The proposed sale will improve Bahrain's capability to meet
current and future security threats. Bahrain will use these
munitions as a deterrent to regional threats, strengthen its
homeland defense, and execute counter-terrorism operations.
The GP bomb bodies would also better equip Bahrain to operate
with U.S.-led and U.S.-supported coalition operations.
Bahrain will have no difficulty absorbing these munitions
into its armed forces.
The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not
alter the basic military balance in the region.
There is no prime contractor planned for this effort; the
munitions will be provided by the U.S. Government out of
stock. There are no offset agreements proposed in connection
with this potential sale.
Implementation of this proposed sale will not require the
assignment of any additional U.S. or contractor
representatives to Bahrain.
There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness
as a result of this proposed sale.
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