[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 176 (Tuesday, November 15, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6686-S6687]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
ARMS SALES NOTIFICATION
Mr. MENENDEZ. Madam 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:
[[Page S6687]]
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. 22-69,
concerning the Army's proposed Letter(s) of Offer and
Acceptance to the Government of Switzerland for defense
articles and services estimated to cost $700 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,
Aaron Harding
(For James A. Hursch, Director).
Enclosures.
Transmittal No. 22-69
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 Switzerland.
(ii) Total Estimated Value:
Major Defense Equipment * $600 million.
Other $100 million.
Total $700 million.
(iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or
Services under Consideration for Purchase:
Major Defense Equipment:
Up to seventy-two (72) PATRIOT Advanced Capability (PAC) 3
Missile Segment Enhanced (MSE) Missiles.
Non-MDE: Also included are telemetry kits; PAC-3 MSE
missile round trainers; PAC-3 MSE empty round trainers; PAC-3
missile skid kits; launcher stations heater controls;
classified missile repair and return; classified PAC-3
concurrent spare parts; unclassified PAC-3 concurrent spare
parts; PAC-3 MSE canister consumables; quality assurance;
Field Surveillance Program; U.S. Government and contractor
technical, engineering, and logistics technical assistance;
flight test support; flight test targets; and other related
elements of logistics and program support.
(iv) Military Department: Army (SZ-B-UCA).
(v) Prior Related Cases, if any: SZ-B-UAS.
(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 15,
2022.
* As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control
Act.
POLICY JUSTIFICATION
Switzerland--PATRIOT Advanced Capability (PAC) 3 Missile Segment
Enhanced (MSE) Missiles
The Government of Switzerland has requested to buy up to
seventy-two (72) PATRIOT Advanced Capability (PAC) 3 Missile
Segment Enhanced (MSE) missiles. Also included are telemetry
kits; PAC-3 MSE missile round trainers; PAC-3 MSE empty round
trainers; PAC-3 missile skid kits; launcher stations heater
controls; classified missile repair and return; classified
PAC-3 concurrent spare parts; unclassified PAC-3 concurrent
spare parts; PAC-3 MSE canister consumables; quality
assurance; Field Surveillance Program; U.S. Government and
contractor technical, engineering, and logistics technical
assistance; flight test support; flight test targets; and
other related elements of logistics and program support. The
total estimated cost is $700 million.
This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and
national security objectives of the United States by helping
to improve the security of a friendly European nation that
continues to be an important force for political stability
and economic progress within Europe.
The proposed sale of the PAC-3 MSE missiles will enhance
the capability of Switzerland's PATRIOT missile defense
system. Switzerland will use the PATRIOT system and missiles
to defend its territorial integrity and for regional
stability. The proposed sale supports Switzerland's goal of
improving national and territorial defense as well as
interoperability with U.S. and NATO forces. Switzerland 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 prime contractor will be Lockheed-Martin, Dallas,
Texas. 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 require
approximately five (5) U.S. Government and five (5)
contractor representatives to travel to Switzerland for an
extended period for equipment de-processing/fielding, and
technical and logistics support.
There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness
as a result of this proposed sale.
Transmittal No. 22-69
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 PATRIOT Advanced Capability (PAC) 3 Missile Segment
Enhanced missile is a small, highly agile, kinetic kill
interceptor for defense against tactical ballistic missiles,
cruise missiles and air-breathing threats. The MSE variant of
the PAC-3 missile represents the next generation in hit-to-
kill interceptors and provides expanded battlespace against
evolving threats. The PAC-3 MSE improves upon the original
PAC-3 capability with a higher performance solid rocket
motor, modified lethality enhancer, more responsible control
surfaces, upgraded guidance software, and insensitive
munitions improvements.
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 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 Switzerland 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 Switzerland.
____________________