[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 51 (Tuesday, March 21, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Pages S856-S857]
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. 23-12, 
     concerning the Navy's proposed Letter(s) of Offer and 
     Acceptance to the Government of Greece for defense articles 
     and services estimated to cost $268 million. We will issue a 
     news release to notify the public of this proposed sale upon 
     delivery of this letter to your office.
           Sincerely,
                                                       Mike Miller
                                  (For James A. Hursch, Director).
       Enclosures.


                         Transmittal No. 23-12

     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 Greece).
       (ii) Total Estimated Value:
        Major Defense Equipment * $163.3 million.
       Other $104.7 million.
       Total $268.0 million.
       Funding Sources: National Funds ($243.0 million). Foreign 
     Military Financing ($25.0 million).
       (iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or 
     Services Under Consideration for Purchase:
       Major Defense Equipment (MDE):
       Sixty-three (63) Assault Amphibious Vehicles, Personnel 
     Variant (AAVP-7A1).
       Nine (9) Assault Amphibious Vehicles, Command Variant 
     (AAVC-7A1).
       Four (4) Assault Amphibious Vehicles, Recovery Variant 
     (AAVR-7A1).
       Sixty-three (63) 50-Caliber Machine Guns (Heavy Barrel).
       Non-MDE:
       Also included are MK-19 Grenade Launchers; M36E Tl Thermal 
     Sighting Systems (TSS), supply support (spare parts), support 
     equipment (including special mission kits/tools/Enhanced 
     Applique Kits (EAAK)), training, technical manuals 
     (UNCLASSIFIED), technical data, U.S. Government and 
     contractor engineering, technical support and assistance 
     (including Contractor Engineering Technical Services (CETS)), 
     Integrated Logistic Support (ILS) management services, parts 
     obsolescence remediation, calibration services 
     transportation, Follow-on Support (FOS), Return, Repair and 
     Reshipment of unserviceable repairable items/equipment, 
     applicable software and apparel, and other related elements 
     of logistics and program support.
       Military Department: Navy (GR-P-SCO).
       Prior Related Cases, if any: None.
       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 17, 2023.
       *As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control 
     Act.


                          POLICY JUSTIFICATION

                  Greece--Assault Amphibious Vehicles

       The Government of Greece has requested to buy sixty-three 
     (63) Assault Amphibious Vehicles, Personnel Variant (AAVP-
     7A1), nine (9) Assault Amphibious Vehicles, Command Variant 
     (AAVC-7A1), four (4) Assault Amphibious Vehicles, Recovery 
     Variant (AAVR-7A1), and sixty-three (63) 50-Caliber Machine 
     Guns (Heavy Barrel). Also included are MK-19 Grenade 
     Launchers, M36E T1 Thermal Sighting Systems (TSS), supply 
     support (spare parts), support equipment (including special 
     mission kits/tools/Enhanced Applique Kits (EAAK)), training, 
     technical manuals (UNCLASSIFIED), technical data, U.S. 
     Government and contractor engineering, technical support and 
     assistance (including Contractor Engineering Technical 
     Services (CETS)), Integrated Logistic Support

[[Page S857]]

     (ILS) management services, parts obsolescence remediation, 
     calibration services, transportation, Follow-on Support 
     (FOS), Return, Repair and Reshipment of unserviceable 
     repairable items/equipment, applicable software and apparel, 
     and other related elements of logistics and program support. 
     The estimated total cost is $268 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 NATO ally, which is an important 
     partner for political stability and economic progress in 
     Europe.
       This proposed sale will improve Greece's capability to meet 
     current and future threats by providing an effective 
     capability to protect maritime interests and infrastructure 
     in support of its strategic location on NATO's southern 
     flank. Greece contributes to NATO operations, as well as to 
     counterterrorism and counter-piracy maritime efforts. Greece 
     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.
       There is not a principal contractor associated with this 
     potential sale. Consequently, there are no known offset 
     agreements proposed in connection with this potential sale.
        Implementation of this proposed sale will not require the 
     assignment of U.S. Government personnel, but will require one 
     (1) contractor representative, Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) 
     position to Greece to deliver Assault Amphibious Vehicles, 
     related equipment and support.
       There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness 
     as a result of this proposed sale.


                         Transmittal No. 23-12

     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 mission of the Assault Amphibious Vehicle (AAV) is 
     to maneuver surface assault elements of the landing force and 
     their equipment from assault shipping during amphibious 
     operations to inland objectives and to conduct mechanized 
     operations and related combat support in subsequent 
     operations ashore.
       The AAV-7A1 Family of Vehicles includes the Personnel 
     variant which carries troops in amphibious operations from 
     ship to shore, through the surf zone and to inland 
     objectives. The AAVP-7A1 provides protected transport for up 
     to 25 combat-loaded personnel through all types of terrain. 
     The Command Variant, AAVC-7A1, is an armored assault 
     amphibious full-tracked landing vehicle. The vehicle provides 
     a mobile task force communication center in amphibious 
     operations from ship to shore through the surf zone to inland 
     objectives. The Recovery Variant, AAVR-7A1, is an armored 
     assault amphibious full-tracked vehicle. The vehicle is 
     designed to recover similar or smaller sized vehicles. It 
     also carries basic maintenance equipment to provide field 
     support maintenance to vehicles in the field.
       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 Greece 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 
     Greece.


  CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO 620C(d) OF THE FOREIGN ASSISTANCE ACT OF 
                            1961, AS AMENDED

       Pursuant to Section 620C(d) of the Foreign Assistance Act 
     of 1961, as amended (the Act), Executive Order 12163, State 
     Department Delegation of Authority No. 293-2, and State 
     Department Delegation of Authority 510; I hereby certify that 
     the furnishing to Greece of Amphibious Assault Vehicles and 
     related defense articles and services is consistent with the 
     principles contained in Section 620C(b) of the Act.
       This certification will be made part of the notification to 
     Congress under Section 36(b) of the Arms Export Control Act, 
     as amended, regarding the proposed sale of the above-named 
     articles and services and is based on the justification 
     accompanying such notification, of which such justification 
     constitutes a full explanation
     Bonnie Jenkins
       Under Secretary for Arms Control and International 
     Security.

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