[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.
____________________