[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

                                 ______
                                 

                        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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