[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 202 (Thursday, December 7, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5845-S5846]
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)(1) of the Arms Export Control Act, as 
     amended, we are forwarding herewith Transmittal No. 23-15, 
     concerning the Air Force's proposed Letter(s) of Offer and 
     Acceptance to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for defense 
     articles and services estimated to cost $582 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. 23-15

     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 * $60 million.
       Other $522 million.
       Total $582 million.
       Funding Source: National Funds.
       (iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or 
     Services Under Consideration for Purchase: The Government of 
     Saudi Arabia has requested to buy aircraft hardware and 
     software modifications and support to replenish and modernize 
     its RE-3A Tactical Airborne Surveillance System (TASS) 
     aircraft, including:
       Major Defense Equipment (MDE):
       Seven (7) Embedded Global Positioning System/Inertial 
     Navigation System (GPS/INS) (EGI) Security Devices, Airborne, 
     with Selective Availability Anti-Spoofing Module (SAASM) or 
     M-Code Capability.
       Five (5) L3Harris BlackRock Communications Intelligence 
     Sensor Suites.
       Non-MDE: Also included are KY-100M narrowband/wideband 
     secure communications terminals; KIV-77 MODE 4/5 
     Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) cryptographic appliques; 
     AN/PYQ-10 Simple Key Loaders; integrated electronic 
     intelligence (ELINT)/signals intelligence (SIGINT) systems; 
     L-3 Communication Systems-West (CSW) multiband receivers/
     transmitters; ARC-210 radios; high frequency (HF) radios; 
     secure communications equipment; precision navigation and 
     cryptographic devices; aircraft support and support 
     equipment; test and integration support; equipment; spare and 
     repair parts; consumables and accessories; repair and return 
     support; 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: Air Force (SR-D-QDO).
       (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: December 4, 2023.
       *As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control 
     Act.


                          POLICY JUSTIFICATION

  Saudi Arabia--RE-3A Tactical Airborne Surveillance System Aircraft 
                             Modernization

       The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has requested to buy aircraft 
     hardware and software modifications and support to replenish 
     and modernize its RE-3A Tactical Airborne Surveillance System 
     (TASS) aircraft, including: seven (7) Embedded Global 
     Positioning System/Inertial Navigation System (GPS/INS) (EGI) 
     security devices, Airborne, with Selective Availability Anti-
     Spoofing Module (SAASM) or M-Code capability, and five (5) 
     L3Harris BlackRock Communications Intelligence Sensor Suites. 
     Also included are KY-100M narrowband/wideband secure 
     communications terminals; KIV-77 MODE 4/5 Identification 
     Friend or Foe (IFF) cryptographic appliques; AN/PYQ-10 Simple 
     Key Loaders; integrated electronic intelligence (ELINT)/
     signals intelligence (SIGINT) systems; L-3 Communication 
     Systems-West (CSW) multiband receivers/transmitters; ARC-210 
     radios; high frequency (HF) radios; secure communications 
     equipment; precision navigation and cryptographic devices; 
     aircraft support

[[Page S5846]]

     and support equipment; test and integration support; 
     equipment; spare and repair parts; consumables and 
     accessories; repair and return support; 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 
     $582 million.
       This proposed sale will support the foreign policy goals 
     and national security objectives of the United States by 
     improving the security of a partner country that is a force 
     for political stability and economic progress in the Gulf 
     Region.
       The proposed sale will improve Saudi Arabia's surveillance 
     capability to counter current and future regional threats, 
     strengthen its homeland defense, and improve interoperability 
     with systems operated by U.S. forces and other Gulf Region 
     partners. Saudi Arabia will have no difficulty absorbing 
     these systems 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 L3 Technologies, 
     Greenville, TX. There are no known offset agreements proposed 
     in connection with this potential sale.
       Implementation of this proposed sale will not require the 
     assignment of any additional 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.


                         Transmittal No. 23-15

     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 Embedded Global Positioning System/Inertial 
     Navigation System (GPS/INS) (EGI) with Selective Availability 
     Anti-Spoofing Module (SAASM)--or M-Code receiver when 
     available--and Precise Positioning Service (PPS) is a self-
     contained navigation system that provides the following: 
     acceleration, velocity, position, attitude, platform azimuth, 
     magnetic and true heading, altitude, body angular rates, time 
     tags, and coordinated universal time (UTC) synchronized time. 
     SAASM or M-Code enables the GPS receiver access to the 
     encrypted P(Y or M) signal, providing protection against 
     active spoofing attacks.
       2. The L3Harris BlackRock is a communications intelligence 
     (COMINT) system comprised of multiple Direction Finding (DF) 
     antenna arrays, a Radio Frequency (RF) distribution system, 
     software defined tuners, and a reconfigurable processing 
     solution hosting the applications. The BlackRock provides 
     COMINT processing of over 100 simultaneous signals for 
     complete situational awareness of modern communications 
     environments.
       3. The KY-100M is a lightweight terminal for secure voice 
     and data communications. The KYI-100M provides wideband/
     narrowband half-duplex communication. Operating in tactical 
     ground, marine, and airborne applications, the KY-100M 
     enables secure communication with a broad range of radio and 
     satellite equipment.
       4. The Electronic Intelligence (ELINT) system is composed 
     of Automatic (L3H Corvus) and Manual (SNC Small SwaP Digital 
     SIGINT system) ELINT systems utilizing Left Hand Side LHS) 
     and Right Hand Side (RHS) Interferometer arrays, signal 
     tuners, processing/high speed data storage components, Radio 
     Frequency (RF) distribution system, LHS and RHS steerable 
     beam antennas and a 360 degree spin Direction Finding (DF) 
     antennas.
       5. The AN/ APQ-10C Simple Key Loader is a handheld fill 
     device for securely receiving, storing, and transferring data 
     between cryptographic and communications equipment.
       6. The L-3 Communication Systems-West (CSW) Multiband 
     Receiver/Transmitter is a lightweight, handheld military 
     radio that provides an integrated capability to receive and 
     view battlefield video with advanced tactical voice and data 
     communications.
       7. The ARC-210 UHF/VHF secure radio with HAVE QUICK II/
     SATURN is a voice communications radio system that can 
     operate in either normal, secure, and/or jam-resistant modes.
       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 hardware and software elements, the 
     information could be used to develop countermeasures or 
     equivalent systems which might reduce system effectiveness or 
     be used in the development of a system with similar or 
     advanced capabilities.
       10. A determination has been made that the Government of 
     Saudi Arabia 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 policy and national security objectives outlined 
     in the Policy Justification.
       11. All defense articles and services listed in this 
     transmittal are authorized for release and export to Saudi 
     Arabia.

                          ____________________