[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.
____________________