[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 198 (Monday, November 15, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Pages S8076-S8077]
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 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. Robert Menendez,
     Chairman, Committee on Foreign Relations,
     U.S. Senate, Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. Chairman: Pursuant to the reporting requirements 
     of Section 36(b)(l) of the Arms Export Control Act, as 
     amended, we are forwarding herewith Transmittal No. 20-11 
     concerning the Air Force's proposed Letter(s) of Offer and 
     Acceptance to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for defense 
     articles and services estimated to cost $650 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. 20-11

     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: Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
       (ii) Total Estimated Value:
       Major Defense Equipment* $620 million.
       Other $30 million.
       Total $650 million.
       Funding Source: National Funds.
       (iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or 
     Services under Consideration for Purchase:
       Major Defense Equipment (MDE):
       Two Hundred Eighty (280) AIM-120C-7/C-8 Advanced Medium 
     Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM).
       Five Hundred Ninety-six (596) LAU-128 Missile Rail 
     Launchers (MRL).
       Non-MDE: Also included are containers; weapon support and 
     support equipment; spare and repair parts; U.S. Government 
     and contractor engineering, technical and logistical support 
     services; and other related elements of logistical and 
     program support.
       (iv) Military Department: Air Force (SR-D-YAG).
       (v) Prior Related Cases, if any: SR-D-YAS.
       (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: November 4, 2021.
       *As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control 
     Act.


                          POLICY JUSTIFICATION

   Saudi Arabia--AIM-120C Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles 
                                (AMRAAM)

       The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has requested to buy two 
     hundred eighty (280) AIM-120C-7/C-8 Advanced Medium Range 
     Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM) and five hundred ninety-six 
     (596) LAU-128 Missile Rail Launchers (MRL). Also included are 
     containers; weapon support and support equipment; spare and 
     repair parts; U.S. Government and contractor engineering, 
     technical

[[Page S8077]]

     and logistical support services; and other related elements 
     of logistical and program support. The total estimated cost 
     is $650 million.
       This proposed sale will support U.S. foreign policy and 
     national security of the United States by helping to improve 
     the security of a friendly country that continues to be an 
     important force for political and economic progress in the 
     Middle East.
       The proposed sale will improve Saudi Arabia's capability to 
     meet current and future threats by increasing its stocks of 
     medium-range missiles for its fighter aircraft fleet for its 
     national defense. This potential sale will support Saudi 
     Arabia's Eurofighter Typhoon, F-15C/D, F-15S, and F-I5SA 
     programs and will further strengthen the interoperability 
     between the United States and Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia 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 principal contractor will be Raytheon, Waltham, MA. 
     There are no known offset agreements in connection 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 not require the 
     assignment of any additional U.S. Government or contractor 
     representatives to Saudi Arabia.
       There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness 
     as a result of this proposed sale.


                         Transmittal No. 20-11

     Notice of Proposed Issuance of Letter of Offer Pursuant to 
         Section 36(b)(l) of the Arms Export Control Act

                           Annex Item No. vii

       (vii) Sensitivity of Technology:
       1. The AIM-120C-7/C-8 AMRAAM is a supersonic, air launched, 
     aerial intercept, guided missile featuring digital technology 
     and micro-miniature solid-state electronics. AMRAAM 
     capabilities include look-down/shoot-down, multiple launches 
     against multiple targets, resistance to electronic 
     countermeasures, and interception of high-and low-flying and 
     maneuvering targets. The AIM-120C-8 is a form, fit, function 
     refresh of the AIM-120C-7 and is the next generation to be 
     produced.
       2. The highest level of classification of information 
     included in this potential sale is SECRET.
       3. If a technologically advanced adversary were to obtain 
     knowledge of the hardware and software elements, the 
     information could be used to develop countermeasures or 
     equivalent systems which might reduce system effectiveness or 
     be used in the development of a system with similar or 
     advanced capabilities.
       4. A determination has been made that the Kingdom of Saudi 
     Arabia 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 are authorized for release and export to the 
     Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

                          ____________________