[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 123 (Monday, July 25, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3636-S3637]
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. 20-49, 
     concerning the Navy's proposed Letter(s) of Offer and 
     Acceptance to the United Arab Emirates for defense articles 
     services estimated to cost $206 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,
                                                 Jedidiah P. Royal
                                  (For James A. Hursch, Director).
       Enclosures.


                         Transmittal No. 20-49

     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 the United Arab 
     Emirates (UAE).
       (ii) Total Estimated Value:
       Major Defense Equipment * $0 million.
       Other $206 million.
       Total $206 million.
       Funding Source: National Funds.
       (iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or 
     Services Under Consideration for Purchase: The Government of 
     UAE has requested a possible sale of Oceanographic 
     Observation Equipment System.
       Major Defense Equipment (MDE):
       None.
       Non-MDE: An Oceanographic Observation Equipment System that 
     includes multi-site sensors; multiple remote data collection 
     facilities; support for centralized data analysis center 
     eight (8) data analysis workstations; fiber optic 
     communications suites; power supplies; uninterruptable power 
     supplies; power and data distribution; U.S. Government and 
     contractor engineering, technical and logistics support 
     services; and other related elements of logistical and 
     program support.
       (iii) Military Department: Navy (AE-P-LAI).
       (iv) Prior Related Cases, if any: None.
       (v) Sales Commission, fee, etc., Paid, Offered, or Agreed 
     to be Paid: None.
       (vi) Sensitivity of Technology Contained in the Defense 
     Article or Defense Services Proposed to be Sold: See Attached 
     Annex.
       (vii) Date Report Delivered to Congress: July 21, 2022.
       * As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control 
     Act.


                          POLICY JUSTIFICATION

    United Arab Emirates--Oceanographic Observation Equipment System

       The Government of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has 
     requested to buy an Oceanographic Observation Equipment 
     System that includes multi-site sensors; multiple remote data 
     collection facilities; support for centralized data analysis 
     center eight (8) data analysis workstations; fiber optic 
     communications suites; power supplies; uninterruptable power 
     supplies; power and data distribution; U.S. Government and 
     contractor engineering, technical and logistics support 
     services; and other related elements of logistical and 
     program support. The estimated total cost is $206 million.
       This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and 
     national security objectives of the United States by helping 
     to improve the security of an important regional partner. The 
     UAE has been, and continues to be, a vital U.S. partner for 
     political stability and economic progress in the Middle East.
       The proposed sale will provide UAE with real-time 
     oceanographic data in defense of the UAE maritime boundary, 
     natural resources and ports. The United Arab Emirates will 
     have no difficulty absorbing this equipment 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(s) will be Lockheed Martin Rotary 
     and Mission System, Manassas, VA. There are no known offset 
     agreements proposed in connection with this potential sale.
       Implementation of this proposed sale will require the 
     assignment of two
       (2) contractor representatives to the UAE to provide 
     technical reviews, support, and oversight for two and a half 
     (2.5) years following initial operating capability.
       There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness 
     as a result of this proposed sale.


                         Transmittal No. 20-49

     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 Oceanographic Environmental Observation Equipment 
     (OEOE) System is an underwater fixed surveillance system that 
     consists of twelve (12) sensors connected to shore processing 
     which allows the tracking of marine platforms. The system 
     provides acoustic detection and tracking of contacts of 
     interest. The performance will depend on the contact's 
     acoustic properties and local environmental conditions. The 
     following capabilities will be provided:
       a. Operator Workstation/Displays: Eight {8) operator 
     workstations. This capability will provide three flat-panel 
     displays, a keyboard and mouse per operator station lo 
     support the presentation of acoustic information to the 
     operators, and the monitoring and maintenance of the system 
     health and status by the maintainer.
       b. Data Storage: This capability will provide for the 
     collection, aggregation and storage of information in a 
     central contact database.
       c. Maintenance Displays: Two (2) maintenance displays. This 
     capability will provide a maintenance operator system a view 
     of the health of the system and tools to trouble and correct 
     issues.
       d. Audio Playback: This capability will allow operators to 
     listen to acoustic data processed by the system.
       2. The highest level of classification of defense articles, 
     components, and services included in this potential sale is 
     SECRET//REL TO USA, ARE.
       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 United Arab 
     Emirates can provide substantially the same degree of 
     protection for the sensitive technology being released as the 
     U.S. Government. This sale is necessary in

[[Page S3637]]

     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 
     United Arab Emirates.

                          ____________________