[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 49 (Wednesday, March 20, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2461-S2462]
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 still available to the full Senate, I ask unanimous 
consent to have printed in the Record the notifications that have been 
received. If the cover letter references a classified annex, then such 
an 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. 23-90, 
     concerning the Army's proposed Letter(s) of Offer and 
     Acceptance to the Government of Bahrain for defense articles 
     and services estimated to cost $2.2 billion. We will issue a 
     news release to notify the public of this proposed sale upon 
     delivery of this letter to your office.
           Sincerely,
                                                      Mike Miller,
                                  (For James A. Hursch, Director).
       Enclosures.


                         Transmittal No. 23-90

     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 Bahrain.
       (ii) Total Estimated Value:
       Major Defense Equipment * $1.6 billion.
       Other $0.6 billion.
       Total $2.2 billion.
       Funding Source: National Funds.
       (iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or 
     Services under Consideration for Purchase:
       Major Defense Equipment (MDE):
       Fifty (50) M1A2 SEPv3 Abrams Main Battle Tanks.
       Four (4) M88A2 HERCULES Combat Recovery Vehicles.
       Eight (8) M1110 Joint Assault Bridges.
       Eight (8) M1150 Assault Breacher Vehicles.
       Eight (8) Heavy Assault Scissor Bridge (HASB).
       One hundred (100) M240 Coaxial 7.62mm Machine Guns.
       Three (3) AGT1500 Gas Turbine Engines.
       Six thousand (6,000) 120mm M1002 Target Practice 
     Multipurpose Tracer (TPMP-T) Projectiles.
       Five thousand seven hundred sixty (5,760) 120mm M1147 High 
     Explosive Multipurpose Tracers.
       Non-MDE: Also included are M2A1.50 caliber machine guns; 
     Common Remote Operated Weapons Station Low Profile (CROWS-
     LP); Forward Repair System; M250 smoke grenade launchers; 
     service and training ammunition; M1300/M1302 Enhanced Heavy 
     Equipment Transporter System (EHETS); M978A4 Heavy Expanded 
     Mobility Tactical Truck (HEMTT) tanker and Load Handling 
     System (LHS); M074A1 Palletized Load Systems and trailers and 
     flat racks; support and test equipment; integration and test 
     support; spare and repair parts; Special Tools and Test 
     Equipment (STTE); communications equipment; Selective 
     Availability Anti-Spoofing Module (SAASM)-based Global 
     Positioning System (GPS) receivers; software delivery and 
     support; Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) equipment; 
     publications and technical manuals; maintenance trainers; 
     training equipment; U.S. Government and contractor 
     engineering, technical, and logistics support services; Next 
     Generation Automatic Test System (NGATS); and other related 
     elements of logistics and program support.
       (iv) Military Department: Army (BA-B-ULL).
       (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: March 19, 2024.
       *As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control 
     Act.


                          POLICY JUSTIFICATION

                 Bahrain--M1A2 Abrams Main Battle Tanks

       The Government of Bahrain has requested to buy fifty (50) 
     M1A2 SEPv3 Abrams Main Battle Tanks; four (4) M88A2 HERCULES 
     Combat Recovery Vehicles; eight (8) M1110 Joint Assault 
     Bridges; eight (8) M1150 Assault Breacher Vehicles; eight (8) 
     Heavy Assault Scissor Bridge (HASB); one hundred (100) M240 
     Coaxial 7.62mm machine guns; three (3) AGT1500 Gas Turbine 
     engines; six thousand (6,000) 120mm M1002 Target Practice 
     Multipurpose Tracer (TPMP-T) projectiles; and five thousand 
     seven hundred sixty (5,760) 120mm M1147 High Explosive 
     Multipurpose Tracers. Also included are M2A1 .50 caliber 
     machine guns; Common Remote Operated Weapons Station Low 
     Profile (CROWS-LP); Forward Repair System; M250 smoke grenade 
     launchers; service and training ammunition; M1300/M1302 
     Enhanced Heavy Equipment Transporter System (EHETS); M978A4 
     Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Truck (HEMTT) tanker and 
     Load Handling System (LHS); M074A1 Palletized Load Systems 
     and trailers and flat racks; support and test equipment; 
     integration and test support; spare and repair parts; Special 
     Tools and Test Equipment (STTE); communications equipment; 
     Selective Availability Anti-Spoofing Module (SAASM)-based 
     Global Positioning System (GPS) receivers; software delivery 
     and support; Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) equipment; 
     publications and technical manuals; maintenance trainers; 
     training equipment; U.S. Government and contractor 
     engineering, technical, and logistics support services; Next 
     Generation Automatic Test System (NGATS); and other related 
     elements of logistics and program support. The estimated 
     total cost is $2.2 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 Major Non-NATO Ally that is an 
     important force for political stability and economic progress 
     in the Middle East.
       The proposed sale will improve Bahrain's capability to meet 
     current and future threats by providing a credible force that 
     can deter adversaries and provide the capability to 
     participate in regional operations with the United States and 
     other U.S. partner nations. Bahrain 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; RTX Corporation, McKinney, TX; and Lockheed Martin, 
     Orlando, FL. The purchaser typically requests offsets. Any 
     offset agreement will be defined in negotiations between the 
     purchaser and the contractor.
       Implementation of this proposed sale will require the 
     assignment of one (1) U.S. Government and thirty (30) U.S. 
     contractor representatives to travel to Bahrain 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. 23-90

     Notice of Proposed Issuance of Letter of Offer Pursuant to 
         Section 36(b)(l) of the Arms Export Control Act

                           Annex Item No. vii

       (vii) Sensitivity of Technology:

[[Page S2462]]

  

       1. The M1A2 SEPv3 Abrams Tank 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 considered to 
     contain sensitive technology in the proposed sale are as 
     follows:
       a. Export Thermal Imaging System (TIS) and Export 
     Commander's Independent Thermal Viewer (CITV): The TIS and 
     CITV constitute a target acquisition system which, when 
     operated with other tank systems, gives the tank crew a 
     substantial battlefield advantage over adversary. 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 conditions. The TIS can be operated and 
     viewed by the tank gunner or tank commander and is the main 
     sighting system for the tank or main gun (cannon). The CITV 
     provides the same target acquisition system as the TIS but 
     through a separate system that can be controlled and operated 
     independent of the TIS.
       b. Special Armor (FMS-released version of special armor): 
     Major components of special armor are fabricated in sealed 
     modules and in serialized removable subassemblies.
       c. 120 millimeter (mm) Main Gun (Cannon) and M256 Gun 
     Barrel: The Abrams 120mm main gun system is composed of a 
     120mm smoothbore gun (cannon), also referred to as the M256 
     gun barrel, manufactured at Watervliet Arsenal. It can fire 
     armor-piercing fin-stabilized discarding sabot (APFSDS), 
     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) (M153A2E1): The CROWS-LP allows for remote 
     operation of the M2HB, M2A1, M240B, and M240 machine gun 
     systems.
       f. Ammunition Data Link (ADL): The ADL consists of 
     hardware, electronics, and software. The ADL is required to 
     effectively fire the latest generation of ``smart'' 120mm 
     main gun ammunition. The ADL transmits data to main gun smart 
     ammunition to increase its capability and effectiveness.
       g. Driver Vision Enhancer: The AN/VAS-5 Driver Vision 
     Enhancer--Abrams (DVE-A)and Rear-View Sensor System (RVSS), 
     M88 (DVE-CV), and JAB (DVE & RVSS) are uncooled thermal 
     imaging systems. The DVE-A (CV) 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. AN/PSN-13 Defense Advanced Global Positioning System 
     (GPS) Receiver (DAGR): The DAGR is a handheld GPS receiver 
     used by the U.S. Army and select foreign military services. 
     DAGR is a military-grade, dual-frequency receiver and has the 
     security hardware necessary to decode GPS band signals. The 
     DAGR is a handheld GPS receiver which utilizes Selective 
     Availability Anti-Spoofing Module (SAASM) security. It is 
     used for the Abrams Tank, the M88A2 Heavy Equipment Recovery 
     Combat Utility Lifting Extraction System (HERCULES) Combat 
     Recovery Vehicle, and the Joint Assault Bridge.
       i. GPS with M-Code capability: M-Code is designed to 
     enhance military position, navigation, and timing 
     capabilities. M-Code is designed with improved resistance to 
     existing and emerging threats to GPS, such as jamming and 
     spoofing (i.e., detecting and rejecting false signals).
       j. AN/PRC-158: The AN/PRC-158 is a multiband handheld 
     radio. It is a portable, compact, tactical, software-defined 
     combat-net radio manufactured by L3/Harris Corporation. It is 
     used for the Abrams Tank and the M88A2 HERCULES Combat 
     Recovery Vehicle.
       k. 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 can be used as a handheld device or mounted on a 
     head harness.
       2. M88A2 HERCULES Combat Recovery Vehicle: The M88A2 
     HERCULES is designed to recover damaged Abrams M1 Main Battle 
     Tanks from the battlefield. The vehicle can extricate M1s and 
     other combat vehicles that have become bogged down or 
     entangled and can additionally repair or replace damaged 
     parts under fire. The M88A2 main winch is capable of 70-ton 
     single line recovery and a 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 start other vehicles.
       3. M1110 Joint Assault Bridge (JAB): The M1110 JAB is a 
     fully tracked armored Combat Engineer System designed 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 (HASB).
       4. M1150 Assault Breacher Vehicle: The M1150 is a tracked, 
     Combat Engineer System designed to breach mine fields and 
     complex obstacles and provide in-stride breaching capability. 
     It provides crew protection and vehicle survivability while 
     having the speed and mobility to keep pace with the maneuver 
     force.
       5. The highest level of classification of defense articles, 
     components, and services included in this potential sale is 
     SECRET.
       6. 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.
       7. A determination has been made that Bahrain 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.
       8. All defense articles and services listed in this 
     transmittal have been authorized for release and export to 
     the Government of Bahrain.

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