[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 142 (Tuesday, September 5, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3883-S3884]
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. 23-66,
concerning the Army's proposed Letter(s) of Offer and
Acceptance to the Government of the Republic of Bulgaria for
defense articles and services estimated to cost $1.5 billion.
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. 23-66
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 the Republic of
Bulgaria.
(ii) Total Estimated Value:
Major Defense Equipment* $1.0 billion.
Other $.5 billion.
Total $1.5 billion.
Funding Source: National Funds
(iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or
Services under Consideration for Purchase: The Government of
the Republic of Bulgaria has requested to buy one hundred
eighty-three (183) Stryker Family of Vehicles, including:
Major Defense Equipment (MOE):
Ninety (90) XM1296 Infantry Carrier Vehicles--Dragoon
(ICVD).
Seventeen (l7) M1126 Infantry Carrier Vehicles (ICV)
Nine (9) M1132 Engineer Squad Vehicles (ESV)
Thirty-three (33) M1130 Command Vehicles (CV)
Twenty-four (24) M1133 Medical Evacuation Vehicles (MEV)
Ten (10) M1135 Nuclear, Biological, Chemical Reconnaissance
Vehicles (NBCRV).
Five (5) Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Truck (HEMTT)
Light Equipment Transport (LET).
Five (5) Modular Catastrophic Recovery System (MCRS).
Two (2) M1120A4 HEMTT Load Handling System.
Five (5) M984A4 Wrecker HEMTT.
One hundred seven (107) M240 Coaxial 7.62mm Machine Guns.
Non-MDE: The following are also included: support service
equipment; M-153A4 Common Remote Operated Weapons Stations
(CROWS); Forward Repair Systems (FRS); M2A1. 50 caliber
machine guns; M6 smoke grenade launchers and associated
spares; Harris radios; AN/VAS-5 Driver's Vision Enhancer
(DVE); DYE-Wide; communications equipment; RS6 (LW30) Remote
Weapon Systems; TACFLIR 280 HDEP systems; Ranger R20SS Radar;
ROVER6Si transceivers; spare parts; Basic Issue Items (BII),
Components of End Items (COEI), and Additional Authorized
List (AAL); Special Tools and Test Equipment (STTE);
technical manuals; OCONUS Deprocessing Service; OCONUS
contractor provided training and Field Service
Representatives (FSR); component assembly incountry; and
other related elements of logistics and program support.
(iv) Military Department: Army (BU-B-UCP, BU-B-UCS).
(v) Prior Related Cases, if any: None.
(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: See Attached
Annex.
(viii) Date Report Delivered to Congress: September 1,
2023.
*As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control
Act.
policy justification
Bulgaria--Stryker Vehicles
The Government of the Republic of Bulgaria has requested to
buy one hundred eighty-three (183) Stryker Family of
Vehicles. The proposed sale would consist of: ninety (90)
XM1296 Infantry Carrier Vehicles--Dragoon (ICVD); seventeen
(17) M1126 Infantry Carrier Vehicles (ICV); nine (9) M1132
Engineer Squad Vehicles (ESV); thirty-three (33) M1130
Command Vehicles (CV); twenty-four (24) M1133 Medical
Evacuation Vehicles (MEV); ten (10) M1135 Nuclear,
Biological, Chemical Reconnaissance Vehicles
[[Page S3884]]
(NBCRV); five (5) Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Truck
(HEMTT) Light Equipment Transports (LET); five (5) Modular
Catastrophic Recovery Systems (MCRS); two (2) M1120A4 HEMTT
Load Handling Systems; five (5) M984A4 Wrecker HEMTTs; and
one hundred seven (107) M240 Coaxial 7.62mm machine guns.
Also included is support service equipment; M-153A4 Common
Remote Operated Weapons Stations (CROWS); Forward Repair
Systems (FRS); M2A1 .50 caliber machine guns; M6 smoke-
grenade launchers and associated spares; Harris radios; AN/
VAS-5 Driver's Vision Enhancer (DVE); DVE-Wide;
communications equipment; RS6 (LW30) Remote Weapon Systems;
TACFLIR 280 HDEP systems; Ranger R20SS Radar; ROVER6Si
transceivers; spare parts; Basic Issue Items (BII),
Components of End Items (COEI), and Additional Authorized
List (AAL); Special Tools and Test Equipment (STTE);
technical manuals; OCONUS Deprocessing Service; OCONUS
contractor provided training and Field Service
Representatives (FSR); component assembly in-country; and
other related elements of logistics and program support. The
estimated total cost is $1.5 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 North Atlantic Treaty
Organization ally that is a force for political stability and
economic progress in Europe.
The proposed sale will improve Bulgaria's rapid infantry
deployment and force projection capability. Bulgaria will use
this enhanced capability to strengthen its homeland defense
and deter regional threats. Bulgaria will have no difficulty
absorbing this equipment and services into its armed forces.
The principal contractor will be General Dynamics Land
Systems, Anniston, AL. There are no known offset agreements
proposed in connection with this potential sale.
Implementation of this proposed sale will require twenty
(20) Stryker contractor representatives to travel to Bulgaria
for twenty-four (24) months to conduct contractor logistics
support, training, and component assembly support.
There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness
as a result of this proposed sale.
Transmittal No. 23-66
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 Stryker Family of Vehicles (FoV) are all derived
from the Flat Bottom Infantry Carrier Vehicle (ICV). The ICV
supplies the common suspension (except for the ICVD), drive
line, major C4 components, and hull to the FoV. The FoV is
powered by a 350 horsepower C7 Caterpillar diesel engine and
runs on eight wheels that feature run flat capability and a
central tire inflation system (CTIS). It contains a vehicle
height management system to aid in transportability. The FoV
is supported by a communications suite that integrates the
Single Channel Ground and Airborne Radio System (SINCGARS)
radio family and Global Positioning System (GPS) and their
commercially exportable equivalents, and has a Mission
Equipment Package that add to the ICV common capabilities.
The Stryker is deployable by C-130 aircraft and is combat
capable upon arrival; it is also capable of self-deployment
by highway and can conduct self-recovery. It has a low noise
level that reduces crew fatigue and enhances survivability.
It moves about the battlefield quickly and is optimized for
close, complex, or urban terrain. The Stryker program
leverages non-developmental items with common subsystems and
components to quickly acquire and field these systems.
2. The XM914E1 is a single feed chain gun that fires
linked, percussion-primed 30mm 113mm ammunition. The gun is
powered by a 1 horsepower 28V (volt) direct current (DC)
motor and incorporates hang fire safety protection. Actual
operation of the gun is accomplished via the platform's fire
control system in conjunction with and through the dedicated
Gun Control Unit (GCU). The GCU provides all electrical power
to the gun, including operational and sensor level 28V DC
power. The weapon has a cyclic firing rate of 200
25 shots per minute. Actual firing rate varies within the
specification range due to system level characteristics, such
as inputted voltage and ammunition feed system loads.
3. The RS6 Remote Weapon System (RWS) is an externally
mounted weapon mounting and control system that allows the
gunner to remain inside the vehicle protected by armor while
firing a variety of crew-served weapons, including the
XM914E1 chain gun. The RS6 allows for remote day and night
sighting and ballistic control capability, providing first-
burst engagement of targets at maximum effective weapon range
while on the move.
4. The AN/VAS-5 Driver's Vision Enhancer (DVE) is compact
thermal camera providing armored vehicle drivers with day or
nighttime visual awareness in clear or reduced vision (fog,
smoke, dust, etc.) situations. The system provides the driver
a 50-degree viewing angle using a high-resolution infrared
sensor and image stabilization to reduce the effect of shock
and vibration. The viewer and monitor are ruggedized for
operation in tactical environments.
5. The Driver's Vision Enhancer (DVE-Wide) mounted on the
XM1296 ICVD, is a compact thermal camera providing armored
vehicle drivers with day or nighttime visual awareness in
clear or reduced vision (fog, smoke, dust, etc.) situations.
The system provides the driver a 180-degree viewing angle
using a high-resolution infrared sensor and image
stabilization to reduce the effect of shock and vibration.
The viewer and monitor are ruggedized for operation in
tactical environments.
6. The Common Remote Operated Weapon Station (CROWS) is an
externally-mounted weapon mounting and control system that
allows the gunner to remain inside the vehicle protected by
armor while firing a variety of crew-served weapons. The
CROWS allows for remote day and night sighting and ballistic
control capability, providing first-burst engagement of
targets at maximum effective weapon range while on the move.
7. hC2 BMS solution--the hC2 Software Suite is a complete
COMMAND and Control (C2) solution that offers clarity,
simplicity, and high performance to address real world C2
challenges at all echelon levels. The hC2 Suite connects the
headquarters all the way down the echelon to the tactical
edge. At the core of the hC2 Suite is hC2 Tactical
Communications, which enables full integration and
interoperability of the three hC2 components: COMMAND, PATROL
and DISMOUNT. hC2 Tactical Communications provides networked
COMMAND and control and shared situational awareness,
allowing for information exchange across echelons. hC2
Tactical Communications is operable on limited bandwidth,
high latency tactical radio data communications frequencies.
hC2 also supports IP and non-IP radios and can handle
different types of radios, even within the same vehicle.
8. The highest level of classification of defense articles,
components, and services included in this potential sale is
SECRET.
9. 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.
10. A determination has been made that Bulgaria can provide
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.
11. All defense articles and services listed in this
transmittal have been authorized for release and export to
the Republic of Bulgaria.
____________________