[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 34 (Tuesday, February 23, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Pages S811-S812]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        ARMS SALES NOTIFICATION

  Mr. MENENDEZ. 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

[[Page S812]]

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.
     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. 20-48 
     concerning the Army's proposed Letter(s) of Offer and 
     Acceptance to the NATO Communications and Information Agency 
     (NCIA) for defense articles and services estimated to cost 
     $65 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. 20-48

     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: NATO Communications and 
     Information Agency (NCIA).
       (ii) Total Estimated Value:
       Major Defense Equipment * $38 million.
       Other $27 million.
       Total $65 million.
       (iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or 
     Services under Consideration for Purchase:
       Major Defense Equipment (MDE): Five hundred seventeen (517) 
     AN/PRC-158 Manpack UHF SA TCOM Radio Systems.
       Non-MDE: Also included are crypto fill devices, man-
     portable ancillaries, vehicular ancillaries, deployed 
     Headquarter ancillaries, power support, and operator and 
     maintenance training, and other related elements of program, 
     technical and logistics support.
       (iv) Military Department: Army (K4-B-VAA).
       (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: February 5, 2021.
       * As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control 
     Act.


                          POLICY JUSTIFICATION

  NATO Communications and Information Agency (NCIA)--UHF SATCOM Radio 
                                Systems

       The NATO Communications and Information Agency (NCIA) has 
     requested to buy five hundred seventeen (517) AN/PRC-158 
     Manpack UHF SATCOM radio systems. Also included-are crypto 
     fill devices, man-portable ancillaries, vehicular 
     ancillaries, deployed Headquarter ancillaries, power support, 
     and operator and maintenance training, and other related 
     elements of program, technical and logistics support. The 
     total estimated program cost is $65 million.
       This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and 
     national security of the United States by helping to improve 
     the security of NATO allies and partner nations that are an 
     important force for ensuring peace and stability in Europe.
       This proposed sale will ensure NATO warfighters have access 
     to the latest C3I systems and technologies, and will be 
     interoperable with U.S. forces. An updated UHF TACSAT radios 
     in the hands of NATO allies and partners will offer 
     significant C3I capabilities at all echelons, from the 
     operational level down to the lowest small unit tactical 
     formation. These capabilities increase secure communication 
     effectiveness and efficiency and enhance military decision 
     making. NCIA will have no difficulty absorbing this equipment 
     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 Collins Aerospace, Cedar 
     Rapids, IA. There are no known offset agreements in 
     connection with this potential sale.
       Implementation of this proposed sale will require one (1) 
     or two (2) contractor representatives to travel to the 
     specified NATO country to conduct the Operator and 
     Maintenance OCONUS for a period of two (2) months.
       There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness 
     as a result of this proposed sale.


                         TRANSMITTAL NO. 20-48

     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 UHF SATCOM terminal provides voice or data 
     connectivity. The device itself is CCI but is not classified 
     until it is keyed with the proper keying material to enable 
     secure communications.
       2. The highest level of information required to furnish the 
     equipment, training, and data associated with this proposed 
     sale is UNCLASSIFIED.
       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. This sale is necessary in furtherance of the U.S. 
     foreign policy and national security objectives outlined in 
     the enclosed Policy Justification. A determination has been 
     made that the NCIA can provide the same degree of protection 
     for the sensitive technology being released as the U.S. 
     Government.
       5. All defense articles and services listed in this 
     transmittal have been authorized for release and export to 
     the NCIA.

                          ____________________