[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 103 (Tuesday, June 13, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Page S2063]
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. 23-46, 
     concerning the Navy's proposed Letter(s) of Offer and 
     Acceptance to the Government of France for defense articles 
     and services estimated to cost $160 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. 23-46

     Notice of Proposed Issuance of Letter of Offer Pursuant to 
         Section 36(6)(1) of the Arms Export Control Act, as 
         amended
       (i) Prospective Purchaser: Government of France.
       (ii) Total Estimated Value:
       Major Defense Equipment * $0 million.
       Other $160 million.
       Total $160 million.
       (iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or 
     Services Under Consideration for Purchase: Foreign Military 
     Sales (FMS) case FR-P-GWR for non-MDE E-2C Hawkeye 
     sustainment support was originally valued at $99.6 million, 
     below the congressional notification threshold. The 
     Government of France has requested the case be amended to 
     include additional non-MDE E-2C Hawkeye sustainment items and 
     services. This case amendment will increase the total case 
     value above the total non-MDE notification threshold and thus 
     notification of the entire FMS case is now required.
       Major Defense Equipment (MDE): None.
       Non-MDE: Included is an Engine Component Improvement 
     Program (CIP); software updates; technical publication; U.S. 
     Government and contractor technical and product support and 
     assistance; and other related elements of logistics and 
     program support.
       (iv) Military Department: Navy (FR-P-GWR).
       (v) Prior Related Cases, if any: FR-P-SBG, FR-P-SBI, FR-P-
     SBL.
       (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

                France--E-2C Hawkeye Sustainment Support

       The Government of France has requested to buy additional 
     non-MDE E-2C Hawkeye sustainment items and services that will 
     be added to a previously implemented case. The original 
     Foreign Military Sales (FMS) case, valued at $99.6 million, 
     included E-2C Hawkeye sustainment support. Therefore, this 
     notification is for E-2C Hawkeye sustainment support, which 
     includes an Engine Component Improvement Program (CIP); 
     software updates; technical publications; U.S. Government, 
     and contractor technical and product support and assistance; 
     and other related elements of logistics and program support. 
     The estimated total cost is $160 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 that is an important 
     force for political stability and economic progress in 
     Europe.
       The proposed sale will improve France's capability to meet 
     current and future threats in the European domain by 
     maintaining its E-2C fleet in fully mission-capable status 
     and sustain introperability with U.S. and NATO forces. France 
     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.
       The principal U.S. contractor will be Northrop Grumman, 
     Melbourne, FL. There are no known offset agreements proposed 
     in connection with this potential sale.
       Implementation of the proposed sale will require occasional 
     government personnel to visit France on a temporary basis and 
     one contractor personnel to be permanently assigned in France 
     in conjunction with program technical Oversight and support 
     requirements, including program and technical reviews as well 
     as training and maintenance support.
       There will be no adverse-impact on U.S. defense readiness 
     as a result of this proposed sale.

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