[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 130 (Thursday, July 27, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3741-S3742]
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
[[Page S3742]]
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. 23-54,
concerning the Navy's proposed Letter(s) of Offer and
Acceptance to the Government of Romania for defense articles
and services estimated to cost $120.5 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. 23-54
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 Romania.
(ii) Total Estimated Value:
Major Defense Equipment * $75.5 million.
Other $45.0 million.
Total $120.5 million.
Funding Source: National Funds.
(iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or
Services under Consideration for Purchase:
Major Defense Equipment (MDE):
Sixteen (16) Assault Amphibious Vehicles, Personnel Variant
(AAVP-7A1)
Three (3) Assault Amphibious Vehicles, Command Variant
(AAVC-7A1)
Two (2) Assault Amphibious Vehicle, Recovery Variant (AAVR-
7AI)
Sixteen (16) 50 Cal Machine Guns (Heavy Barrel)
Five (5) 7.62 mm M240B Machine Guns
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/Enhanced
Applique Kits (EAAK)); training, unclassified technical
manuals, technical data package, engineering and technical
support and assistance (including Contractor Engineering
Technical Services (CETS)); and other related elements of
program and logistics support.
(iv) Military Department: Navy (RO-P-L-WL).
(v) Prior Related Cases. if any: None.
(vi) Sales Commission, Fee, etc., Paid, Offered, or Agreed
to be Paid: None known at this time.
(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: July 27, 2023.
*As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control
Act.
POLICY JUSTIFICATION
Romania--Assault Amphibious Vehicles
The Government of Romania has requested to buy sixteen (16)
Assault Amphibious Vehicles (AAVs), Personnel Variant (AAVP-
7A1); three (3) Assault Amphibious Vehicles, Command Variant
(AAVC-7Al); two (2) Assault Amphibious Vehicles, Recovery
Variant (AAVR-7Al); sixteen (16) 50 Cal Machine Guns (Heavy
Barrel); and five (5) 7.62 mm M240B Machine Guns. Also
included are MK-19 Grenade Launchers; M36E T1 Thermal
Sighting Systems (TSS); supply support (spare parts); support
equipment (including special mission kits/Enhanced Applique
Kits (EAAK)); training, unclassified technical manuals,
technical data package, engineering and technical support and
assistance (including Contractor Engineering Technical
Services (CETS)); and other related elements of program and
logistics support. The total estimated program cost is $120.5
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 North Atlantic Treaty
Organization (NATO) Ally which is an important force for
political and economic stability in Europe. It is vital to
the U.S. national interest to assist Romania in developing
and maintaining a strong and ready self-defense capability.
The proposed sale will improve Romania's capability to meet
current and future threats by modernizing and ensuring
Romania's continued expeditionary capability to counter
regional threats. Romania will have no difficulty absorbing
this equipment and services into its armed forces.
The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not
alter the basic military balance in the region.
A principal contractor has not been determined for
potential sale. 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 the
assignment of one (1) contractor representative to Romania
for approximately one (1) year to deliver AAVs, related
equipment, and support.
There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness
as a result of this proposed sale.
Transmittal No. 23-54
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.
a. 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-7Al provides protected transport of up
to 25 combat-loaded personnel through all types of terrain.
b. The Command Variant, AAVC-7Al, 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 surf zone to inland
objectives.
c. The Recovery Variant, AAVR-7A1, is an armored assault
amphibious full-tracked vehicle. The vehicle is designed to
recover similar or smaller size vehicles. It also carries
basic maintenance equipment to provide field support
maintenance to vehicles in the field.
d. The 50 Cal Machine Gun (Heavy Barrel) is the standard
weapon for the AAVP-7A1.
e. The 7.62 mm M240B Machine Gun is the standard weapon for
the AAVC-7Al and the AAVR-7Al.
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 specific hardware and software elements, the
information could be used to develop countermeasures that
might reduce weapon system effectiveness or be used in the
development of a system with similar or advanced
capabilities.
4. A determination has been made that Romania 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 pc,Hcy 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
the Government of Romania.
____________________