[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.
____________________