[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 154 (Tuesday, September 8, 2020)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5439-S5440]
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.

[[Page S5440]]

     20-51 concerning the Army's proposed Letter(s) of Offer and 
     Acceptance to the Government of the United Kingdom for 
     defense articles and services estimated to cost $46 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,
                                                   Heidi H. Grant,
                                                         Director.
       Enclosures.


                         Transmittal No. 20-51

     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 the United 
     Kingdom.
       (ii) Total Estimated Value:
       Major Defense Equipment * $42 million.
       Other $4 million.
       Total $46 million.
       (iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or 
     Services under Consideration for Purchase:
       Major Defense Equipment (MDE):
       Three hundred ninety-five (395) AGM-114R2 Hellfire 
     Missiles.
       Non-MDE: Also included is technical assistance, 
     publications, integration support, and other related elements 
     of logistics and program support.
       (iv) Military Department: Army (UK-B-WUG).
       (v) Prior Related Cases, if any: UK-B-WSD, UK-B-WSA, UK-B-
     WQU.
       (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: August 26, 2020.
       * As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control 
     Act.


                          Policy Justification

                   United Kingdom--Hellfire Missiles

       The Government of the United Kingdom has requested to buy 
     three hundred ninety-five (395) AGM-114R2 Hellfire missiles. 
     Also included is technical assistance, publications, 
     integration support, and other related elements of logistics 
     and program support. The estimated total cost is $46 million.
       This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and 
     national security objectives 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.
       The proposed sale will improve the United Kingdom's ability 
     to meet current and future threats by replacing expiring and 
     unserviceable missiles and maintaining capability to execute 
     missions across a full range of military operations. The 
     United Kingdom will have no difficulty absorbing these 
     missiles 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 Lockheed Martin Corporation, 
     Orlando, Florida. The purchaser typically requests offsets. 
     Any offset agreement will be defined in negotiations between 
     the purchaser and the contractor.
       Implementation of this proposed will not require the 
     assignment of any additional U.S. Government or contractor 
     representatives to the United Kingdom.
       There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness 
     as a result of this proposed sale.


                         Transmittal No. 20-51

     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 AGM-114R2 Hellfire missile is used against heavy and 
     light armored targets, thin skinned vehicles, urban 
     structures, bunkers, caves and personnel. The missile is 
     Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) based, with a variable delay 
     fuse and improved safety and reliability. The Hellfire II 
     multipurpose warhead variant (AGM-114R) allows selection of 
     warhead effects corresponding to a specific target type. The 
     AGM-114R is capable of being launched from Army rotary-wing 
     and UAS platforms and provides the pilot increased 
     operational flexibility.
       2. The highest level of classification of defense articles, 
     components, and services included in this potential sale is 
     SECRET.
       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 United Kingdom 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.
       5. All defense articles and services listed in this 
     transmittal have been authorized for release and export to 
     the United Kingdom.

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