[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 163 (Wednesday, October 16, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5834-S5835]
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)(l) of
[[Page S5835]]
the Arms Export Control Act, as amended, we are forwarding
herewith Transmittal No. 19-56 concerning the Air Force's
proposed Letter(s) of Offer and Acceptance to the Government
of Tunisia for defense articles and services estimated to
cost $234 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.
Enclosures.
Transmittal No. 19-56
Notice of Proposed Issuance of Letter of Offer Pursuant to
Section 36(b)(l) of the Arms Export Control Act, as
amended
(i) Prospective Purchaser: Government of Tunisia.
(ii) Total Estimated Value:
Major Defense Equipment* $115 million.
Other $119 million.
Total $234 million.
(iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or
Services under Consideration for Purchase:
Major Defense Equipment (MDE):
Twelve (12) T-6C Texan Trainer Aircraft.
Non-Major Defense Equipment (MDE): Also included in this
sale are spare engines, cartridge actuated devices/propellant
actuated devices operational flight trainer, spare parts,
ground handling equipment, support equipment, software
delivery and support, publications and technical
documentation, clothing, textiles and individual equipment,
aircraft ferry support, technical and logistical support
services, site surveys, minor modifications/class IV support,
personnel training and training equipment, U.S. Government
and contractor engineering, technical and logistics support
services, and other related elements of logistical and
program support.
(iv) Military Department: Air Force (TU-D-SAB).
(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: October 10, 2019.
* As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control
Act.
POLICY JUSTIFICATION
Tunisia--T-6C Texan Trainer Aircraft
The Government of Tunisia has requested a possible sale of
twelve (12) T-6C Texan trainer aircraft, spare engines,
cartridge actuated devices/propellant actuated devices
operational flight trainer, spare parts, ground handling
equipment, support equipment, software delivery and support,
publications and technical documentation, clothing, textiles
and individual equipment, aircraft ferry support, technical
and logistical support services, site surveys, minor
modifications/class IV support, personnel training and
training equipment, U.S. Government and contractor
engineering, technical and logistics support services, and
other related elements of logistical and program support. The
estimated value is $234 million.
This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and
national security of the United States by helping to improve
the defense capabilities and capacity of a major non-NATO
ally, which is an important force for political stability and
economic progress in North Africa. This potential sale will
provide additional opportunities for bilateral engagements
and further strengthen the bilateral relationship between the
United States and Tunisia.
The proposed sale will replace Tunisia's aging trainer
fleet and allow Tunisia to continue training pilots to
support Tunisia's counter-terrorism and border security
missions. Tunisia will have no difficulty absorbing this
aircraft into its armed forces.
The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not
alter the basic military balance in the region.
The prime contractor will be Textron Aviation Defense LLC
of Wichita, Kansas. There are no known offset agreement
proposed with this potential sale. However, the purchaser
typically requests offsets. Any offset agreement will be
defined in negotiations between the purchaser and the
contractor.
Implementation of this proposed sale will require the
assignment of nine U.S. Government and one contractor
representative to Tunisia.
There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness
as a result of this proposed sale.
Transmittal No. 19-56
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 T-6C is a single engine turboprop trainer aircraft
that includes a virtual no-drop scoring capability. Its
primary purpose is to teach air to ground operations. No hard
points or weapons can be carried on the T-6C.
2. A determination has been made that the recipient country
can provide substantially the same degree of protection for
the 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.
3. All defense articles and services listed in this
transmittal have been authorized for release and export to
the Government of Tunisia.
____________________