[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 187 (Monday, November 13, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5475-S5477]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        ARMS SALES NOTIFICATION

  Mr. CARDIN. 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. 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)(l) of the Arms Export Control Act, as 
     amended, we are forwarding herewith Transmittal No. 23-71, 
     concerning the Army's proposed Letter(s) of Offer and 
     Acceptance to the Government of Romania for defense articles 
     and services estimated to cost $2.53 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. 23-71

     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 * $0.97 billion.
       Other $1.56 billion.
       Total $2.53 billion.
       Funding Source: National Funds.
       (iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or 
     Services under Consideration for Purchase:
       Major Defense Equipment (MDE):
       Fifty-four (54) M1A2 SEPv3 Abrams Main Battle Tanks.

[[Page S5476]]

       Fifty-four (54) M1A1 Structures.
       Four (4) M88A2 HERCULES Combat Recovery Vehicles.
       Four (4) M1110 Joint Assault Bridges.
       Four (4) M1150 Assault Breacher Vehicles.
       Four (4) Heavy Assault Scissor Bridge (HASB).
       Fifty-four (54) M240C 7.62mm Machine Guns.
       Ten (10) AGT1500 Gas Turbine Engines.
       Five thousand nine hundred forty (5,940) 120mm M1147 High 
     Explosive, Multipurpose, Tracer (HEMP-T) Cartridges.
       Four thousand two hundred thirty (4,230) 120mm M1002 Target 
     Practice Multipurpose, Tracer (TPMP-T) Cartridges.
       Non-MDE: Also included are mine rollers; Enhanced Heavy 
     Equipment Transporter (EHET) M1300 tractors with M1302 
     trailer with B-Kit/Frag Kit; Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical 
     Truck (HEMTT) M978A4 with B-Kit/Frag Kit; Tank Rack Modules 
     (TRM) M107A1 fuel trailer (2500 gal) with B-Kit/Frag Kit; 
     HEMTT A4 M1120 Load Handling System (LHS) with B-Kit/Frag 
     Kit; Ml076A1 with flat rack and B-Kit/Frag Kit; Forward 
     Repair Systems; trailer mounted generators; Common Remote 
     Operated Weapons Station Low Profile (CROWS-LP); M2A1 .50 
     caliber machine guns; communications equipment; global 
     positioning system (GPS) receivers; service and training 
     ammunition; spare and repair parts; Special Tools and Test 
     Equipment (STTE); technical manuals and publications; 
     maintenance trainers; gunnery training systems; tank driver's 
     trainers; new equipment training; U.S. Government and 
     contractor technical, engineering, and logistics personnel 
     services; concurrent spare parts; Field Service 
     Representative (FSR) support; Contractor Logistics Support 
     (CLS); Next Generation Automatic Test System (NGATS); 
     logistics products; tank range upgrade; Intensive Management 
     Office (IMO); Foreign Liaison Officer (FLO); Program 
     Management Reviews (PMR); test measurement and diagnostic 
     equipment; and other related elements of logistics and 
     program support.
       (iv) Military Department: Army (RO-B-UGI).
       (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: November 9, 2023.
       *As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control 
     Act.


                          POLICY JUSTIFICATION

                 Romania--M1A2 Abrams Main Battle Tanks

       The Government of Romania has requested to buy fifty-four 
     (54) M1A2 SEPv3 Abrams Main Battle Tanks; fifty-four (54) 
     M1A1 Structures; four (4) M88A2 HERCULES Combat Recovery 
     Vehicles; four (4) M1110 Joint Assault Bridges; four (4) 
     M1150 Assault Breacher Vehicles; four (4) Heavy Assault 
     Scissor Bridges (HASB); fifty-four (54) M240C 7.62mm machine 
     guns; ten (10) AGT1500 Gas Turbine engines; five thousand 
     nine hundred forty (5,940) 120mm M1147 High Explosive, 
     Multipurpose, Tracer (HEMP-T) cartridges; and four thousand 
     two hundred thirty (4,230) 120mm M1002 Target Practice 
     Multipurpose, Tracer (TPMP-T) cartridges. Also included are 
     mine rollers; Enhanced Heavy Equipment Transporter (EHET) 
     M1300 tractors with M1302 trailer with B-Kit/Frag Kit; Heavy 
     Expanded Mobility Tactical Truck (HEMTT) M978A4 with B-Kit/
     Frag Kit; Tank Rack Modules (TRM) M107A1 fuel trailer (2500 
     gal) with B-Kit/Frag Kit; HEMTT A4 M1120 Load Handling System 
     (LHS) with B-Kit/Frag Kit; M1076A1 with flat rack and B-Kit/
     Frag Kit; Forward Repair Systems; trailer mounted generators; 
     Common Remote Operated Weapons Station Low Profile (CROWS-
     LP); M2A1 .50 caliber machine guns; communications equipment; 
     global positioning system (GPS) receivers; service and 
     training ammunition; spare and repair parts; Special Tools 
     and Test Equipment (STTE); technical manuals and 
     publications; maintenance trainers; gunnery training systems; 
     tank driver's trainers; new equipment training; U.S. 
     Government and contractor technical, engineering, and 
     logistics personnel services; concurrent spare parts; Field 
     Service Representative (FSR) support; Contractor Logistics 
     Support (CLS); Next Generation Automatic Test System (NGATS); 
     logistics products; tank range upgrade; Intensive Management 
     Office (IMO); Foreign Liaison Officer (FLO); Program 
     Management Reviews (PMR); test measurement and diagnostic 
     equipment; and other related elements of logistics and 
     program support. The estimated total program cost is $2.53 
     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 NATO Ally which is an important 
     force for political and economic stability in Europe.
       The proposed sale will improve Romania's capability to meet 
     current and future threats by providing a credible force that 
     is capable of deterring adversaries and participating in NATO 
     operations. Romania will have no difficulty absorbing this 
     equipment into its armed forces.
       The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not 
     alter the basic military balance in the region.
       The principal contractors will be General Dynamics Land 
     Systems, Sterling Heights, MI; BAE Systems, York, PA; 
     Leonardo DRS, Arlington, VA; Honeywell Aerospace, Phoenix, 
     AZ; Raytheon Company, McKinney, TX; Lockheed Martin, Orlando, 
     FL; L3 Harris, Melbourne, FL; American Apex Corporation, 
     Delaware, OH; Allison Transmissions, Indianapolis, IN; 
     Pearson Engineering, New Castle, United Kingdom; Amentum, 
     Chantilly, VA; CAE, Chantilly, VA; Palomar, Carlsbad, CA; 
     Boeing Company, Arlington, VA; Fibrotex, Stearns, KY; and US 
     Ordnance, McCarran, NV. There are no known offset agreements 
     proposed in connection with this potential sale.
       Implementation of this proposed sale will require 
     approximately (22) U.S. Government and (52) U.S. contractor 
     representatives to travel to Romania for a duration of up to 
     five years to support equipment fielding and training.
       There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness 
     as a result of this proposed sale.


                         Transmittal No. 23-71

     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. MIA2 SEPv3 Abrams Tank: The M1A2 Abrams is a third-
     generation American main battle tank, produced by General 
     Dynamics Land Systems and named for General Creighton Abrams. 
     The M1A2 SEPv3 (System Enhancement Package version 3) 
     features include a multi-fuel turbine engine, composite 
     armor, an advanced computer fire control system, separate 
     ammunition storage in a blow-out compartment, and 120mm main 
     gun. Extensive improvements have been integrated into the 
     latest M1A2 SEPv3 configuration. These improvements include 
     improved digital systems, increased electrical power margin 
     to support demands of future technologies, line replaceable 
     modules (LRM) to reduce operational support costs, ammunition 
     data link to support new tank main gun rounds, and an 
     auxiliary power unit (APU). M1A2 SEPv3 Abrams tank components 
     include:
       a. Export Thermal Imaging System (TIS) and Export 
     Commander's Independent Thermal Viewer (CITV): The TIS and 
     CITV constitutes a target acquisition system which, when 
     operated with other tank systems, gives the tank crew a 
     substantial advantage over the potential threat. The TIS 
     provides the Abrams M1A2 crew with the ability to effectively 
     aim and fire the tank main armament system under a broad 
     range of adverse battlefield conditions. The TIS can be 
     operated and viewed by the tank gunner or tank commander and 
     is the main sighting system for the tanks' main gun (cannon). 
     The CITV provides the same target acquisition system as the 
     TIS but provides the tank commander a separate system that 
     can be controlled and operated independent of the TIS.
       b. Special Armor (Foreign Military Sales-released version 
     of special armor): Major components of special armor are 
     fabricated in sealed modules and in serialized removable sub-
     assemblies.
       c. 120mm Main Gun (Cannon) & M256 Gun Barrel: The Abrams 
     120mm main gun system is composed of: a 120 millimeter (mm) 
     smoothbore gun (cannon), also referred to as the M256 gun 
     barrel, manufactured at Watervliet Arsenal; armor-piercing, 
     fin stabilized, discarded sabot (APFSDS) and other warheads; 
     and combustible cartridge case ammunition.
       d. AGT-1500 Gas Turbine Propulsion System: The use of AGT-
     1500 gas turbine propulsion system in the M1A2 is a unique 
     application of armored vehicle power pack technology. The 
     hardware is composed of the AGT-1500 engine and transmission.
       e. Common Remotely Operated Weapon Station--Low Profile 
     (CROWS-LP): The CROWS-LP (M153A2E1) is a commander's weapon 
     station. It allows for operation of weapons--M2HB, M2A1, 
     M240B and M240 machine guns. The CROWS-LP is an updated 
     version of the M153A2 CROWS, The CROWS-LP M153A2E1 has 
     improved performance over M1553A2.
       f. Ammunition Data Link (ADL): The Ammunition Data Link 
     (ADL) is a system consisting of hardware, electronics, 
     software and an upgraded fire control system. The ADL is 
     required to effectively fire the latest generation of 
     ``smart'' 120mm main gun ammunition. The ADL offers the 
     capability to supply data to the main gun ammunition to 
     increase the capability and effectiveness of the smart round. 
     The Advanced Multipurpose (AMP) smart round requires the ADL 
     to function and is a future enhancement for use with the M1A2 
     Abrams.
       g. Driver Vision Enhancer--Abrams (DVE-A) AN/VAS-5 and Rear 
     View Sensor System (RVSS): The DVE-A and M88 DVEs are thermal 
     imaging systems developed for use while driving combat 
     vehicles and tactical wheeled vehicles. The DVE provides 
     night vision capability for the Abrams tank driver. RVSS 
     provides a rear-view camera for the Abrams tank. DVE, DVE-
     Wide (JAB), DVE-A, and RVSS allow for tactical vehicle 
     movement in support of operational missions in all 
     environmental conditions (day/night and all weather) and 
     provides enhanced driving capability during limited 
     visibility conditions (darkness, smoke, dust, fog, etc.).
       h. Militarized GPS Receiver Global Positioning System (GPS) 
     AN/PSN-13 Defense Advanced GPS Receiver (DAGR): Militarized 
     GPS capability is currently provided to military vehicles 
     using the DAGR. The DAGR is a handheld GPS receiver which 
     utilizes Selective Availability Anti-Spoofing Module (SAASM) 
     security. It is used for the Abrams

[[Page S5477]]

     tank, the M88A2 HERCULES Recovery Vehicle, and the Joint 
     Assault Bridge.
       i. Communication Radio ``Falcon III RF-7850D: The Falcon 
     III RF-7850D is a multi-channel radio. It is a portable, 
     compact, tactical software-defined combat-net radio 
     manufactured by L3 Harris Corporation. It is also referred to 
     as the Falcon III RF-7850D Multi-Channel Manpack Radio 
     System. It is used for the Abrams tank and M88A2 HERCULES 
     Recovery Vehicle.
       j. PVS-14 Night Vision Monocular: The PVS-14 Night Vision 
     Monocular is a rugged, lightweight, multi-purpose night 
     vision device that has repeatedly proven itself in combat. 
     The PVS-14 design was originally commissioned by the U.S. 
     military to enable nighttime operations. This monocular is 
     used globally in some of the most challenging environments. 
     The PVS-14 can be used as a handheld device or mounted on a 
     head harness. The PVS-14 monocular conforms to 810G Military 
     standards and demonstrates the highest quality form and 
     function.
       2. Battle Management System (BMS): The BMS SEPv3 tank will 
     consist of a Data Distribution Unit--Expandable (DDUx), a 
     transceiver, and a commercial software called BC2A platform 
     software by Interactive. It equips soldiers with secure data 
     encryption and advanced logistics. It includes an intuitive 
     interface with features like touch-to-zoom maps and drag-and-
     drop icons. It is used for the Abrams tank, M88A2 Recovery 
     Vehicle, Joint Assault Bridges (JAB), Assault Breacher 
     Vehicles (ABV), EHET M1300, HEMTT M978A4, and MEMTTA4A M1120.
       3. M88A2 HERCULES Recovery Vehicle: The primary role of the 
     M88A2 Heavy Equipment Recovery Combat Utility Lifting 
     Extraction System (HERCULES) Combat Recovery Vehicle is 
     recovery of the Abrams M1 Main Battle Tank. The 70-ton M88A2 
     Recovery Combat Vehicle is standard equipment to de-process, 
     recover, and sustain the Abrams M1 Tank. The vehicle's role 
     is to extricate combat vehicles that have become bogged down 
     or entangled and to repair or replace damaged parts in 
     fighting vehicles while under fire. The M88A2 main winch is 
     capable of 70-ton single line recovery and of 140-ton 2:1 
     recovery when used with a 140-ton pulley. The A-frame boom of 
     the M88A2 can lift 35 tons when used in conjunction with the 
     spade down. The spade can be used for light earth moving and 
     to anchor the vehicle when using the main winch. The M88A2 
     employs an Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) to provide auxiliary 
     electrical and hydraulic power when the main engine is not in 
     operation; the APU can also be used to slave start other 
     vehicles. The M88A2 recovery vehicle components considered to 
     contain sensitive technology in the proposed case are as 
     follows:
       AVDS-1790-8CR Engine Propulsion System: The AVDS-1790-8CR 
     is a unique modification to the standard piston engine family 
     in the M60 series and is an upgrade from the engine in the 
     base M88A1.
       4. M1110 Joint Assault Bridge: The M1110 Joint Assault 
     Bridge (JAB) is a fully tracked armor engineer vehicle 
     specifically designed to replace the M48/M60 AVLB and M104 
     Wolverine HAB and to provide assault bridging capabilities to 
     armored forces. The JAB System consists of an M1A1 Abrams 
     chassis (with A2 heavy suspension) and a hydraulic bridge 
     launch mechanism that will launch and retrieve the Heavy 
     Assault Scissor Bridge MLC-115 Normal and MLC-124 Caution. 
     The JAB contains:
       a. Armor: Major components of the armor are fabricated and 
     assembled into serialized removable subassemblies and 
     installed in sealed modules.
       b. AGT-1500 Gas Turbine Propulsion System: The use of AGT-
     1500 gas turbine propulsion system in the JAB is a unique 
     application of armored vehicle power pack technology. The 
     hardware is composed of the AGT-1500 engine and transmission.
       5. M830Al 120mm High Explosive Anti-Tank (HEAT) TP-T 
     Cartridges are a chemical energy, multi-purpose projectile 
     with an anti-personnel capability. The round consists of a 
     fin stabilized steel body which is loaded with Composition A3 
     Type II explosive. The fins are canted and impart spin to the 
     projectile. A copper shaped charge liner and wave shaper are 
     contained within the warhead.
       6. The highest level of classification of defense articles, 
     components, and services included in this potential sale is 
     SECRET.
       7. 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.
       8. A determination has been made that Romania will 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 policy and 
     national security objectives outlined in the Policy 
     Justification.
       9. All defense articles and services listed in this 
     transmittal have been authorized for release and export to 
     the Government of Romania.

                          ____________________