[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 129 (Tuesday, July 30, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5190-S5191]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
ARMS SALES NOTIFICATION
Mr. RISCH. Madam 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. 19-33
concerning the Army's proposed Letter(s) of Offer and
Acceptance to the Government of Thailand for defense articles
and services estimated to cost $175 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. 19-33
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 Thailand.
(ii) Total Estimated Value:
Major Defense Equipment * $125 million.
Other $50 million.
Total $175 million.
(iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or
Services under Consideration for Purchase:
Major Defense Equipment (MDE):
Sixty (60) Stryker Infantry Carrier Vehicles (ICV).
Sixty (60) M2 Flex .50 Cal Machine Guns.
Non-MDE: Also included are spare parts, Basic Issue Items
(BII), Components of End Items (COEI), Additional Authorized
List (AAL), Special Tools and Test Equipment (STTE),
technical manuals, OCONUS Deprocessing Service, M6 smoke
grenade launchers (4 per vehicle) and associated spares, AN/
VAS-5 Driver's Vision Enhancer (DVE), AN/VIC-3 vehicle
intercommunications system, contractor provided training and
Field Service Representatives (FSR), and other related
elements of logistics and program support.
(iv) Military Department: Army (TH-B-WGX).
(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 Annex
Attached.
(viii) Date Report Delivered to Congress: July 26, 2019.
* As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control
Act.
POLICY JUSTIFICATION
Thailand--Stryker Infantry Carrier Vehicles
The Government of Thailand has requested to buy sixty (60)
Stryker Infantry Carrier Vehicles (ICV); and sixty (60) M2
Flex .50 cal machine guns. Also included are spare parts,
Basic Issue Items (BII), Components of End Items (COEI),
Additional Authorized List (AAL) (specific items for
operations and maintenance), Special Tools and Test Equipment
(STTE), technical manuals, OCONUS Deprocessing Service, M6
smoke grenade launchers (4 per vehicle) and associated
spares, AN/VAS-5 Driver's Vision Enhancer (DVE), AN/VIC-3
vehicle intercommunications system, contractor provided
training and Field Service Representatives (FSR), and other
related elements of logistics and program support. The total
estimated program cost is $175 million.
This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and
national security objectives of the United States by helping
to improve security of a Major Non-NATO ally in INDO-PACOM
which is an important force for political stability and
economic progress in the region.
The Stryker vehicles will increase Thailand's capability to
defend its sovereign territory against traditional and non-
traditional threats by filling the capability void between
light infantry soldiers and heavy mechanized units. Thailand
will have no difficulty absorbing this equipment into its
armed forces.
The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not
alter the basic military balance in the region.
The principal contractor for the Stryker vehicle is General
Dynamics Land Systems, Sterling Heights, MI. 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 permanent additional U.S. Government or
Contractor representatives to Thailand.
There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness
as a result of this proposed sale.
Transmittal No. 19-33
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 M1126 Stryker is an infantry carrier vehicle
transporting nine soldiers, their mission equipment and a
crew of two consisting of a driver and vehicle commander. It
is equipped with armor protection, M2 machine guns and M6
Smoke Grenade Launchers for self-protection. The Stryker is
an eight-wheeled vehicle powered by a 350hp diesel engine. It
incorporates a central tire inflation system, run-flat tires,
and a vehicle height management system. The Stryker is
capable of supporting a communications suite, a Global
Positioning System (GPS), and a high
[[Page S5191]]
frequency and near-term digital radio systems. The Stryker is
deployable by C-130 aircraft and combat capable upon arrival.
The Stryker is capable of self-deployment by highway and
self-recovery. It has a low noise level that reduces crew
fatigue and enhances survivability. It moves about the
battlefield quickly and is optimized for close, complex, or
urban terrain. The Stryker program leverages nondevelopmental
items with common subsystems and components to quickly
acquire and field these systems. Stryker is UNCLASSIFIED.
2. The AN/VAS-5 Driver's Vision Enhancer (DVE) is a compact
thermal camera providing armored vehicle drivers with day or
night time visual awareness in clear or reduced vision (fog,
smoke, dust) situation. The system provides the driver a 180
degree viewing angle using a high resolution infrared sensor
and image stabilization to reduce the effect of shock and
vibration. The viewer and monitor are ruggedized for
operation in tactical environments. The system is
UNCLASSIFIED but considered SENSITIVE technology.
3. If a technologically advanced adversary were to obtain
knowledge of the specific hardware and software elements, the
information could be used to develop countermeasures that
might reduce weapon system effectiveness or be used in the
development of a system with similar or advanced
capabilities.
4. A determination has been made that Thailand can provide
substantially the same degree of protection for the
technology being released as the U.S. Government. This sale
supports the U.S. foreign policy and national security
objectives as outlined in the Policy Justification.
5. All defense articles and services listed in this
transmittal have been authorized for release and export to
Thailand.
____________________