[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 103 (Tuesday, June 13, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2063-S2064]
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. President: Pursuant to the reporting requirements 
     of Section 36(b)(1) of the Arms Export Control Act, as 
     amended, we are forwarding herewith Transmittal. No. 23-13 
     concerning the Navy's proposed Letter(s) of Offer and 
     Acceptance to the Government of Kuwait for defense articles 
     and services estimated to cost $1.8 billion. 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. 23-13

     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 Kuwait.
       (ii) Total Estimated Value:
       Major Defense Equipment* $0.
       Other $1.8 billion.
       Total $1.8 billion.
       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: Continuation of contractor engineering technical 
     services; contractor maintenance services; Hush House (an 
     enclosed, noise-suppressed aircraft jet engine testing 
     facility) support services; and Liaison Office Support for 
     the Government of Kuwait's F/A-18 C/D/E/F program, to 
     include: F/A-18 avionics software upgrades; engine component 
     improvements; ground support equipment; engine and aircraft 
     spares and repair parts; publications and technical 
     documentation; Engineering Change Proposals (ECP); U.S. 
     Government and contractor programmatic, financial, and 
     logistics support; maintenance and engineering support; F404/
     F414 engine and engine test cell support; and other related 
     elements of logistical and program support.
       (iv) Military Department: Navy (KU-P-GHY).
       (v) Prior Related Cases, if any: KU-P-GGX, KU-P-GHI, KU-P-
     GHJ, KU-P-SBG.
       (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: None.
       (viii) Date Report Delivered to Congress: June 13, 2023.
       * As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control 
     Act.


                          POLICY JUSTIFICATION

                  Kuwait--Follow-On Technical Support

       The Government of Kuwait has requested to buy continuation 
     of contractor engineering technical services; contractor 
     maintenance services; Hush House (an enclosed, noise-
     suppressed aircraft jet engine testing

[[Page S2064]]

     facility) support services; and Liaison Office Support for 
     the Government of Kuwait's F/A-18 C/D/E/F program, to 
     include: F/A-18 avionics software upgrades; engine component 
     improvements; ground support equipment; engine and aircraft 
     spares and repair parts; publications and technical 
     documentation; Engineering Change Proposals (ECP); U.S. 
     Government and contractor programmatic, financial, and 
     logistics support; maintenance and engineering support; F404/
     F414 engine and engine test cell support; and other related 
     elements of logistical and program support. The estimated 
     cost is $1.8 billion.
       This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and 
     national security objectives of the United States by helping 
     to improve the security of a Major Non-NATO ally that has 
     been an important force for political stability and economic 
     progress in the Middle East.
       The proposed sale will improve Kuwait's ability to meet 
     current and future regional threats. Kuwait will have no 
     difficulty absorbing this support and services into its armed 
     forces.
       The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not 
     alter the basic military balance in the region.
       The principal contractors will be Sigmatech, Inc., 
     Huntsville, AL; Kay and Associates, Inc., Buffalo Grove, IL; 
     Kellogg, Brown, and Root, Houston, TX; L3 Technologies, 
     Melbourne, FL; The Boeing Company, St. Louis, MO; General 
     Electric, Lynn, MA; Industrial Financial Services, Ottawa, 
     ON; and Lockheed Martin, Orlando, FL. Additional principal 
     contractors will be determined by a competitive contractual 
     award process. There are no known offset agreements proposed 
     in connection with this potential sale.
       Implementation of this proposed sale will require the 
     assignment of seven hundred thirty-five (735) U.S. Government 
     and contractor representatives to Kuwait for a period of 
     three years to establish and maintain operational capability.
       There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness 
     as a result of this proposed sale.

                          ____________________