[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 183 (Monday, November 6, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Page S5357]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
ARMS SALES NOTIFICATION
Mr. CARDIN. Madam 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. Benjamin L. Cardin,
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. 23-63,
concerning the Army's proposed Letter(s) of Offer and
Acceptance to the Government of Iraq for defense articles and
services estimated to cost $300 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.
Notice of Proposed Issuance of Letter of Offer Pursuant to
Section 36(b)(l) of the Arms Export Control Act, as
amended
(i) Prospective Purchaser: Government of Iraq.
(ii) Total Estimated Value:
Major Defense Equipment * $ 0.
Other $300 million.
Total $300 million.
Funding Source: Foreign Military Financing.
(iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or
Services under Consideration for Purchase: Foreign Military
Sales (FMS) case IQ-B-AQJ was below the congressional
notification threshold at $28 million ($0 in MDE) and
included a Bell Contracted Logistics Support (CLS) and Field
Service Representative (FSR) contract in support of the
following types of Bell aircraft: three (3) 407 variants,
206B3, OH-58A/C Kiowa, and Huey II. The Government of Iraq
has requested the case be amended to include additional
option years on the current contract and to add contract
support for Bell 505 aircraft as indicated below. This
amendment will push the current case above the total case
value notification threshold and thus requires notification
of the entire case.
Major Defense Equipment (MDE): None
Non-MDE: Bell Contracted Logistics Support (CLS) and Field
Service Representative (FSR) maintenance in support of the
following Bell aircraft: three (3) 407 variants, 206B3, OH-
58A/C Kiowa, Huey II and 505. Also included is U.S.
Government and contractor engineering, technical and
logistics support services; studies and surveys; and other
related elements of logistics and program support.
(iv) Military Department: Army (IQ-B-AQJ).
(v) Prior Related Cases, if any: IQ-B-UDZ, IQ-B-ADQ.
(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: None.
(viii) Date Report Delivered to Congress: November 2, 2023.
* As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control
Act.
POLICY JUSTIFICATION
Iraq--Bell Helicopter Contracted Logistics Support (CLS)
The Government of Iraq has requested to buy additional
services, as indicated below, that will be added to a
previously implemented case whose value was under the
congressional notification threshold. The original FMS case,
valued at $28 million, included a Bell Contracted Logistics
Support (CLS) and Field Service Representative (FSR)
contract. This notification is for the combined CLS and FSR
maintenance support for the following Bell aircraft: three
(3) 407 variants, 206B3, OH-58A/C Kiowa, Huey II and 505.
Also included is U.S. Government and Contractor engineering,
technical and logistics support services; studies and
surveys; and other related elements of logistics and program
support. The estimated total cost is $300 million.
This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and
national security of the United States by helping to improve
the security of a strategic partner.
The proposed sale will improve the Republic of Iraq's
capability to meet current and future threats by enhancing
the strength of its homeland defense. The Republic of Iraq
will have ho difficulty absorbing these 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 contractor will be Bell Helicopter Company,
Fort Worth, TX. There are no known offset agreements proposed
in connection with this potential sale.
Implementation of this proposed sale will require the
assignment of four (4) additional U.S. Government or
contractor representatives to Iraq for a duration of one (1)
year to support CLS for Bell 505 aircraft. There are
currently seven (7) U.S. Government or contractor
representatives in Iraq that will stay an additional two (2)
years to provide support for the contract option years for
CLS and FSR service support for the three (3) 407 variants,
206B3, OH-58A/C and Huey II aircraft.
There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness
as a result of this proposed sale.
____________________