[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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