[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 1 (Tuesday, January 3, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Pages S21-S22]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                            MORNING BUSINESS

                                 ______
                                 

                        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 3 6(b)(I) of the Arms Export Control Act, as 
     amended, we are forwarding herewith Transmittal No. 22-70, 
     concerning the Army's proposed Letter(s) of Offer and 
     Acceptance to the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative 
     Office in the United States (TECRO) for defense articles and 
     services estimated to cost $180 million. We will issue a news 
     release to notify the public of this proposed sale upon 
     delivery of this letter to your office.
           Sincerely,
                                                  James A. Hursch,
                                                         Director.
       Enclosures.


                         Transmittal No. 22-70

     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: Taipei Economic and Cultural 
     Representative Office in the United States (TECRO).
       (ii) Total Estimated Value:
       Major Defense Equipment* $0 million.
       Other $180 million.
       Total $180 million.
       Funding Source: National Funds
       (iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or 
     Services under Consideration for Purchase:
       Major Defense Equipment (MOE):
       None.
       Non-MDE:
       Includes Volcano (vehicle-launched) anti-tank munition-
     laying systems; M977 A4 HEMTT 10-Ton cargo trucks; M87A1 
     Anti-Tank (AT) munitions; M88 canister training munitions 
     (practice dummy ammunition rounds); M89 training munitions 
     (test ammunition rounds); organic U.S. Army Depot build of 
     Volcano system permanently mounted on M977A4 HEMTT truck; 
     logistics support packages to include spare parts, spare 
     secondary assemblies, tool kits and test equipment; technical 
     manuals; organic depot production, integration and testing; 
     Operator and Maintenance Training; logistics and fielding 
     support; USG technical assistance CONUS and OCONUS to include 
     engineering services, program management, site surveys, 
     facility, logistics and maintenance evaluations; quality 
     assurance and de-processing team; field service 
     representative(s); Repair and Return services; any 
     transportation charges to execute the program; and related 
     elements of logistical and program support.
       (iv) Military Department: Army (TW-B-ZDV).
       (v) Prior Related Cases, if any: None.
       (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: December 28, 
     2022.
       * As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control 
     Act.


                          policy justification

   Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United 
                         States--Volcano System

       The Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in 
     the United States (TECRO) has requested to buy Volcano 
     (vehicle-launched) anti-tank munition-laying systems; M977A4 
     HEMTT 10-Ton cargo trucks; M87A1 Anti-Tank (AT) munitions; 
     M88 canister training munitions (practice dummy ammunition 
     rounds); M89 training munitions (test ammunition rounds); 
     organic U.S. Army Depot build of Volcano system permanently 
     mounted on M977A4 HEMTT truck; logistics support packages to 
     include spare parts, spare secondary assemblies, tool kits 
     and test equipment; technical manuals; organic depot 
     production, integration and testing; Operator and Maintenance 
     Training; logistics and fielding support; USG technical 
     assistance CONUS and OCONUS to include engineering services, 
     program management, site surveys, facility, logistics and 
     maintenance evaluations; quality assurance and de-processing 
     team; field service representative(s); Repair and Return 
     services; any transportation charges to execute the program; 
     and related elements of logistical and program support. The 
     estimated total cost is $180 million.
       This proposed sale is consistent with U.S. law and policy 
     as expressed in Public Law 96-8.
       This proposed sale serves U.S. national, economic, and 
     security interests by supporting the recipient's continuing 
     efforts to modernize its armed forces and to maintain a 
     credible defensive capability. The proposed sale will help 
     improve the security of the recipient and assist in 
     maintaining political stability, military balance, and 
     economic progress in the region.
       The proposed sale will improve the recipient's capability 
     to meet current and future threats by providing a credible 
     force capable of deterring adversaries and participating in 
     regional operations. The recipient 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 Northrup Grumman, West Falls Church, VA for 
     production of munition canister mines; and Oshkosh 
     Corporation, Oshkosh, WI for production of the M977A4 HEMTT 
     vehicles. There are no known offset agreements proposed in 
     connection with this potential sale.
       Implementation of this proposed sale will require 
     assignment of one (I) technical representative in country for 
     an estimated two (2) years of support; and U.S. Government 
     representatives and contractor personnel to travel OCONUS for 
     a duration of up to five years to support equipment fielding/
     training and program management.
       There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness 
     as a result of this proposed sale.


                         transmittal no. 22-70

     Notice of Proposed Issuance of Letter of Offer Pursuant to 
         Section 36(b)(1) of the Arms Export Control Act, as 
         amended

                           Annex Item No. vii

       (vii) Sensitivity of Technology:
       1. The Ml39 Volcano System: a mass scatterable mine 
     delivery system that delivers mines by helicopter or ground 
     vehicle. It enables tactical commanders to emplace antitank/
     antipersonnel (AT/AP) or pure AT minefields with a minimum of 
     personnel. A soldier-selectable, self-destruct mechanism 
     destroys the mine at the end of its active lifecycle--4 hours 
     to 15 days--depending on the time selected. Using a ground 
     vehicle, a 1,000-meter minefield can be laid in 4 to 12 
     minutes based on terrain and vehicle speed. A helicopter can 
     complete the mission in 20 seconds. Advantages of this system 
     include faster response, increased lethality, greater 
     efficiency, and enhanced safety.
       a. The Volcano ground system is capable of holding up to 
     160 canisters and can be launched from both sides of the 
     vehicle. Each canister contains six (6) mines.
       b. With the Presidential Landmine Policy in place, AP mines 
     cannot be exported. An AT only canister (M87A1) was developed 
     to meet the policy decision. Therefore, the mine ratio went 
     from five (5) AT mines/one (1) AP mine TO: six (6) AT mines /
     0 AP mines.
       c. Volcano has no sensitive technological information or 
     restricted information contained in the equipment, major 
     components, subsystems, software, technical data 
     (performance, maintenance, R&M, etc.) documentation, training 
     devices and services to be conveyed with the proposed sale. 
     There are no classified Volcano components (major components 
     or subsystems), software, technical data, documentation, 
     training devices or services to be conveyed with the proposed 
     sale.
       2. The highest level of classification of defense articles, 
     components, and services included in this potential sale is 
     UNCLASSIFIED.

[[Page S22]]

  

       3. If a technologically advanced adversary obtains 
     knowledge of the specific hardware and software elements, the 
     information could be used to develop countermeasures or 
     equivalent systems 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 recipient 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 outlines in the 
     Policy Justification.
       5. All defense articles and services listed in this 
     transmittal have been authorized for release and export to 
     the recipient.

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