[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.
____________________