[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 46 (Thursday, March 14, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Page S1892]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
ARMS SALES NOTIFICATION
Mr. RISCH. 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. James E. Risch,
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. 19-04
concerning the Navy's proposed Letter(s) of Offer and
Acceptance to the Government of Spain for defense articles
and services estimated to cost $107 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,
Charles W. Hooper,
Lieutenant General, USA, Director.
Transmittal No. 19-04
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 Spain.
(ii) Total Estimated Value:
Major Defense Equipment* $89.6 million.
Other $17.4 million.
Total $107.0 million.
(iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or
Services under Consideration for Purchase:
Major Defense Equipment (MDE):
Eight (8) Assault Amphibious Vehicles, Personnel (AAVP-7A1)
Reliability, Availability, Maintainability/Rebuilt to
Standard (RAM/RS).
Two (2) Assault Amphibious Vehicles, Command (AAVC-7A1)
Reliability, Availability, Maintainability/Rebuilt to
Standard (RAM/RS).
One (1) Assault Amphibious Vehicle, Recovery (AAVR-7A1)
Reliability, Availability, Maintainability/Rebuilt to
Standard (RAM/RS).
Non-MDE: Also included are Enhanced Armor Applique Kits
(EAAK), spare and repair parts, tools and test equipment,
technical data and publications, training and training
material, U.S. Government and contractor technical and
logistics support services, and other related elements of
logistics and program support.
(iv) Military Department: Navy (SP-P-LHO).
(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: See Attached
Annex.
(viii) Date Report Delivered to Congress: March 14, 2019.
*As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control
Act.
POLICY JUSTIFICATION
Spain--Assault Amphibious Vehicles
The Government of Spain has requested to buy eight (8)
Assault Amphibious Vehicles, Personnel (AAVP-7A1)
Reliability, Availability, Maintainability/Rebuilt to
Standard (RAM/RS); two (2) Assault Amphibious Vehicles,
Command (AAVC-7A 1) Reliability, Availability,
Maintainability/Rebuilt to Standard (RAM/RS); and one (1)
Assault Amphibious Vehicle, Recovery (AAVR-7A1) Reliability,
Availability, Maintainability/Rebuilt to Standard (RAM/RS).
Also included are Enhanced Armor Applique Kits (EAAK), spare
and repair parts, tools and test equipment, technical data
and publications, training and training material, U.S.
Government and contractor technical and logistics support
services, and other related elements of logistics and program
support. The total estimated program cost is $107 million.
This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and
national security of the United States by improving the
security of a NATO ally which is an important force for
political stability and economic progress in Europe. It is
vital to the U.S. national interest to assist Spain in
developing and maintaining a strong and ready self-defense
capability.
The proposed addition of these eleven (11) vehicles to
Spain's fleet will afford more flexibility and maintain
Spain's expeditionary capability to counter regional threats
and continue to enhance stability in the region. Spain
currently operates 19 Assault Amphibious Vehicles (AAVs) and
is proficient at using them to their fullest capability.
Spain will have no difficulty absorbing these additional
vehicles.
The proposed sale of this equipment will not alter the
basic military balance in the region.
The principal contractor will be BAE Systems, York,
Pennsylvania, and Anniston, Alabama. There are no known
offset agreements proposed in connection with this potential
sale.
Implementation of this proposed sale will not require the
assignment of any additional U.S. Government or contractor
representative in Spain.
There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness
as a result of this proposed sale.
Transmittal No. 19-04
Notice of Proposed Issuance of Letter of Offer Pursuant to
Section 36(b)(1) of the Arms Export Control Act
Annex Item No. vii
(vii) Sensitivity of Technology:
1. The vulnerability to countermeasure information for
Assault Amphibious Vehicles is considered classified SECRET.
2. If a technologically advanced adversary were to obtain
knowledge of the hardware and software elements, the
information could be used to develop countermeasures or
equivalent systems which might reduce system effectiveness or
be used in the development of a system with similar or
advanced capabilities.
3. A determination has been made that the Government of
Spain can provide substantially the same degree of protection
for the sensitive technology being released as the U,S.
Government. This sale is necessary in furtherance of the U.S.
foreign policy and national security objectives outlined in
the Policy Justification.
4. All defense articles and services listed in this
transmittal have been authorized for release and export to
the Government of Spain.
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