[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 53 (Thursday, March 24, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Page S1770]
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)(1) of the Arms Export Control Act, as 
     amended, we are forwarding herewith Transmittal No. 22-04 
     concerning the Army's proposed Letter(s) of Offer and 
     Acceptance to the Government of Bahrain for defense articles 
     and services estimated to cost $175.98 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,
                                                  James A. Hursch,
                                                         Director.
       Enclosures.


                         transmittal no. 22-04

     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: Government of Bahrain.
       (ii) Total Estimated Value:
       Major Defense Equipment* $0 million.
       Other $175.98 million.
       Total $175.98 million.
       Funding Source: National Funds.
       (iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or 
     Services under Consideration for Purchase:
       Major Defense Equipment (MDE): None.
       Non-MDE: Upgrade nine (9) M270 Multiple Launch Rocket 
     Systems (MLRS) to M270 A1 minimum configuration. The upgrade 
     will include: the Common Fire Control System (CFCS); Improved 
     Launcher Mechanical System (ILMS); 600h Engine and associated 
     engine compartment modifications; Improved Electronics 
     Distribution Box (IEDB); fan speed control valve; cables and 
     mounting hardware, Power Take Off (PTO) and BOO series 
     transmission; the Digital Communication Systems (DCOMMS); and 
     Vehicular Intercom System (AN/VIC-3). In addition, the effort 
     will include two (2) years spare parts; Operator and 
     Maintenance Training Course' Contractor Logistics Support; 
     U.S. Government engineering support; support and test 
     equipment; integration and test support, software delivery 
     and support; publications and technical documentation; 
     technical and logistics support services; storage; and other 
     related elements of logistical and program support.
       (iv) Military Department: Army (BA-B-ULJ).
       (v) Prior Related Cases, if any: BA-B-JAH, BA-B-UEP, BA-B-
     UIW.
       (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: March 24, 2022.
       *As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control 
     Act.


                          policy justification

      Bahrain--M270 Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS) Upgrade.

       The Government of Bahrain has requested to buy upgrades to 
     nine (9) M270 Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS) to a M270 
     A1 minimum configuration. The upgrade will include: the 
     Common Fire Control System (CFCS); Improved Launcher 
     Mechanical System (ILMS); 600h Engine and associated engine 
     compartment modifications; Improved Electronics Distribution 
     Box (IEDB); fan speed control valve; cables and mounting 
     hardware, Power Take Off (PTO) and BOO series transmission; 
     the Digital Communication Systems (DCOMMS); and Vehicular 
     Intercom System (AN/VIC-3). In addition, the effort will 
     include two (2) years spare parts; Operator and Maintenance 
     Training Course' Contractor Logistics Support; U.S. 
     Government engineering support; support and test equipment; 
     integration and test support, software delivery and support; 
     publications and technical documentation; technical and 
     logistics support services; storage; and other related 
     elements of logistical and program support. The estimated 
     total cost is $175.98 million.
       This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and 
     national security of the United States by helping to improve 
     the security of a Major Non-NATO Ally that is an important 
     force for political stability and economic progress in the 
     Middle East.
       The proposed sale will improve Bahrain's capability to meet 
     current and future threats by enhancing Bahrain's ability to 
     defend itself against regional malign actors and improve 
     interoperability with systems operated by U.S. forces and 
     other Gulf countries. Bahrain's continued investment in its 
     defensive capabilities is crucial to protecting its borders, 
     energy infrastructure, and its residents, including over 
     15,000 U.S. citizens and Naval personnel living and working 
     in the country. Bahrain will have no difficulty absorbing 
     these upgraded MLRSs 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 the Lockheed Martin 
     Corporation, Bethesda, MD. There are no known offset 
     agreements proposed in connection with this potential sale.
       Implementation of this proposed sale will not require the 
     assignment of any additional U.S. Government or contractor 
     representatives to Bahrain.
       There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness 
     as a result of this proposed sale.


                         transmittal no. 22-04

     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 Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) is a high-
     mobility automatic system based on an M270 weapons platform. 
     The MLRS fires surface-to-surface rockets: the Army Tactical 
     Missile System (ATACMS) and the Guided Multiple Launch Rocket 
     System (GMLRS). Without leaving the cab, the crew of three 
     (driver, gunner and section chief) can fire up to 12 MLRS 
     rockets in fewer than 60 seconds.
       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 the Government of 
     Bahrain 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 Government of Bahrain.

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