[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 142 (Monday, August 10, 2020)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5365-S5366]
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. 20-31
concerning the Army's proposed Letter(s) of Offer and
Acceptance to the Government of Argentina for defense article
and services estimated to cost $100 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. 20-31
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 Argentina.
(ii) Total Estimated Value:
Major Defense Equipment * $69 million.
Other $31 million.
Total $100 million.
(iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or
Services under Consideration for Purchase:
Major Defense Equipment (MDE):
Twenty-seven (27) M1126 Stryker Infantry Carrier Vehicles.
Twenty-seven (27) M2 Flex .50 Cal Machine Guns.
Non-MDE: Also included are AN/VAS-5 Driver's Vision
Enhancers; AN/VIC-3 Vehicle Intercom Systems; AN/VRC-91E
Single Channel Ground and Airborne Radio System (SINCGARS);
Basic Issue Items (BIi); Components of End Items (COEI);
Additional Authorized List (AAL); Special Tools and Test
Equipment (STTE); M6 Smoke Grenade launchers and associated
spares; Outside Continental United States (OCONUS) De-
processing Service; OCONUS Contractor-provided training;
Field Service Representatives (FSR); technical manuals; spare
parts; U.S. Government and contractor engineering, technical,
and logistics support services; and other related elements of
logistical and program support.
(iv) Military Department: Army (AR-B-UYU).
(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: July 6, 2020.
*As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control
Act.
POLICY JUSTIFICATION
Argentina--Stryker Infantry Carrier Vehicles
The Government of Argentina has requested to buy twenty-
seven (27) M1126 Stryker Infantry Carrier Vehicles and
twenty-seven (27) M2 Flex .50 Cal Machine Guns. Also included
are AN/VAS-5 Driver's Vision Enhancers; AN/VIC-3 Vehicle
Intercom Systems; AN/VRC-91E Single Channel Ground and
Airborne Radio System (SINCGARS); Basic Issue Items (BIi);
Components of End Items (COEI); Additional Authorized List
(AAL); Special Tools and Test Equipment (STTE); M6 Smoke
Grenade launchers and associated spares; Outside Continental
United States (OCONUS) De-processing Service; OCONUS
Contractor-provided training; Field Service Representatives
(FSR); technical manuals; spare parts; U.S. Government and
contractor engineering, technical, and logistics support
services; and other related elements of logistical and
program support. The total estimated program cost is $100
million.
This proposed sale will support the foreign policy goals
and national security objectives of the United States by
improving the security of a Major Non-NATO Ally that is a
strategic partner in South America.
The proposed sale will improve Argentina's capability to
meet current and future threats by increasing operational
capabilities and force availability. Argentina will use the
Stryker vehicles to conduct stability operations in support
of disaster relief and international peace keeping
obligations. Argentina will have no difficulty absorbing
these vehicles into its armed forces.
The proposed sale of this equipment will not alter the
basic military balance in the region.
The prime contractor will be General Dynamics Land Systems,
Anniston, AL. There are no known offset agreements in
connection with this potential sale.
Implementation of this proposed sale will require the
temporary assignment of two (2) U.S. contractor
representatives to Argentina to support the program.
There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness
as a result of this proposed sale.
Transmittal No. 20-31
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 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 non-developmental items with common
subsystems and components to quickly acquire and filed these
systems.
2. The AN/VAS-5 Driver's Vision Enhancer is a compact
thermal camera providing armored vehicle drivers with day or
night time visual awareness in clear or reduced vision (fog,
smoke, dust) situations. 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.
3. The highest level of classification of defense articles,
components, and services included in this potential sale is
SECRET.
4. 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
[[Page S5366]]
effectiveness or be used in the development of a system with
similar or advanced capabilities.
5. A determination has been made that Argentina 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.
6. All defense articles and services listed in this
transmittal have been authorized for release and export to
the Argentina.
____________________