[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.

                          ____________________