[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 119 (Tuesday, July 19, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3365-S3366]
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,
Washington, DC.
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. 22-39,
concerning the Air Force's proposed Letter(s) of Offer and
Acceptance to the Government of Belgium for defense articles
and services estimated to cost $127 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. 22-39
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 Belgium.
(ii) Total Estimated Value:
Major Defense Equipment* $0 million.
Other $127 million.
Total $127 million.
(iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or
Services under Consideration for Purchase: Foreign Military
Sales (FMS) case BE-D-QBL, was below congressional
notification threshold at $98.4 million for non-MDE F-16
sustainment. The Government of Belgium has requested the case
be
[[Page S3366]]
amended to include additional non-Major Defense Equipment
(non-MDE) items and services. This case amendment will
increase the total case value above the non-MDE notification
threshold and thus require notification of the entirety of
the FMS case.
Major Defense Equipment (MDE): None.
Non-MDE: Included are AN/ARC-210 radios; classified
software, Computer Program Identification Numbers (CPINs),
and software integration support; Electronic Warfare (EW)
database support; test support and equipment; aircraft and
munitions support and support equipment; flight simulator
support; additional hardware and software delivery and
support; spare and repair parts, consumables and accessories;
maintenance and maintenance support; mission planning system
sustainment; facilities, utilities, and information
technology support at U.S. Air Force bases; classified and
unclassified publications and technical documentation; and
U.S. Government and contractor engineering, technical and
logistics support services, studies and surveys; and other
related elements of logistical and program support.
(iv) Military Department: Air Force (BE-D-QBL).
(v) Prior Related Cases, if any: None.
(vi) Sales Commission, Fee, etc., Paid, Offered, or Agreed
to be Paid: None known at this time.
(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: July 19, 2022.
* As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control
Act.
POLICY JUSTIFICATION
Belgium--F-16 Sustainment
The Government of Belgium has requested to buy additional
F-16 sustainment support that will be added to a previously
implemented case. The original FMS case, valued at $98.4
million, included F-16 sustainment, consisting of AN/ARC-210
radios; classified software, Computer Program Identification
Numbers (CPINs), and software integration support; Electronic
Warfare (EW) database support; test support and equipment;
aircraft and munitions support and support equipment; flight
simulator support; additional hardware and software delivery
and support; spare and repair parts, consumables and
accessories; maintenance and maintenance support; mission
planning system sustainment; facilities, utilities, and
information technology support at U.S. Air Force bases;
classified and unclassified publications and technical
documentation; and U.S. Government and contractor
engineering, technical and logistics support services,
studies and surveys; and other related elements of logistical
and program support. This notification will include more of
the same items and services. The estimated total cost is $127
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 Belgium's capability to meet
current and future threats by maintaining its F-16 fleet in
combat-ready status and providing rotational forces to NATO's
Eastern flank. Belgium will have no difficulty absorbing
these articles and services 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 Lockheed Martin, 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 Belgium.
There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness
as a result of this proposed sale.
Transmittal No. 22-39
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 AN/ARC-210 is a voice communications radio system
equipped with HAVE QUICK II, which employs cryptographic
technology. Other waveforms may be included as needed.
2. The Electronic Warfare Integrated Reprogramming Database
(EWIRDB) is used by USG engineers in the reprogramming and
creation of shareable Mission Data Files for the AN/ALQ-131
electronic countermeasures pod on the F-16 aircraft.
3. The highest level of classification of defense articles,
components, and services included in this potential sale is
SECRET.
4. 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.
5. A determination has been made that Belgium 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.
6. All defense articles and services listed in this
transmittal have been authorized for release and export to
the Government of Belgium.
____________________