[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 153 (Thursday, September 21, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Page S4649]
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. 21-69
concerning the Army's proposed Letter(s) of Offer and
Acceptance to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for defense
articles and services estimated to cost $500 million. After
this letter is delivered to your office, we plan to issue a
news release to notify the public of this proposed sale.
Sincerely,
James A. Hursch,
Director.
Enclosures.
TRANSMITTAL NO. 21-69
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: Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
(ii) Total Estimated Value:
Major Defense Equipment * $0 million.
Other $500 million.
Total $500 million.
Funding Source: National Funds.
(iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or
Services under Consideration for Purchase:
Major Defense Equipment (MDE): None.
Non-MDE:
A Foreign Military Sales Order (FMSO) II to provide funds
for blanket order requisitions under a Cooperative Logistics
Supply Support Agreement (CLSSA) for common spares/repair
parts to support the Royal Saudi Land Force's (RSLF) fleet of
Abrams tanks, M-60 tanks, Bradley Fighting Vehicles, mortar
carriers, Combat Engineer Vehicles, High Mobility
Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicles (HMMWVs), Mine Resistance
Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles, Light Armored Vehicles
(LAVs), howitzers, additional support vehicles, components &
accessories, pistols, rifles, crew-served weapons, recoilless
rifles, mortars, vehicle periscopes, night vision devices,
TOW launchers and missile parts, computer units, radar sets,
generators, testing/calibration equipment, communication and
other related elements of logistics and program support.
(iv) Military Department: Army (SR-B-KYZ).
(v) Prior Related Cases, if any: SR-B-UBW, SR-B-KRK, SR-B-
KSB, SR-B-KYL, SR-KYM, SR-B-KYN.
(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: September 21,
2023.
* As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control
Act.
POLICY JUSTIFICATION
Saudi Arabia--Cooperative Logistics Supply Support Arrangement (CLSSA)
Program, Foreign Military Sales Order (FMSO) II
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has requested to buy a Foreign
Military Sales Order (FMSO) II to provide funds for blanket
order requisitions under a Cooperative Logistics Supply
Support Agreement (CLSSA) for common spares repairs parts to
support the Royal Saudi Land Force's (RSLF) fleet of Abrams
tanks, M-60 tanks, Bradley Fighting Vehicles, mortar
carriers, Combat Engineer Vehicles, High Mobility
Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicles (HMMWVs), Mine Resistance
Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles, Light Armored Vehicles
(LAVs), howitzers, additional support vehicles, components &
accessories, pistols, rifles, crew-served weapons, recoilless
rifles, mortars, vehicle periscopes, night vision devices,
TOW launchers and missile parts, computer units, radar sets,
generators, testing/calibration equipment, communication
equipment and other related elements of logistics and program
support. The total estimated program cost is $500 million.
This proposed sale will support U.S. foreign policy and
national security objectives by supporting a strategic
partner's self-defense and promoting stability in the Middle
East.
This proposed sale will maintain Saudi Arabia's capability
to meet current and future threats by allowing the RSLF to
continue to purchase needed spare/repair parts, through their
current CLSSA program, to replenish in-country stocks
required for general maintenance and sustain the operability
of RSLF equipment. The RSLF has participated in the CLSSA
program since 1965 and will have no difficulty absorbing
these items into its armed forces.
The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not
alter the basic military balance in the region.
There are no principal contractors involved with this
potential sale. There are no known offset agreements proposed
in connection with this potential sale.
Implementation of this proposed sale will not require the
permanent assignment of any U.S. Government or contractor
representatives to Saudi Arabia.
There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness
as a result of this proposed sale.
____________________