[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 80 (Wednesday, May 8, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3590-S3591]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        ARMS SALES NOTIFICATIONS

  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)(1) of the Arms Export Control Act, as 
     amended, we are forwarding herewith Transmittal No. 24-30, 
     concerning the Navy's proposed Letter(s) of Offer and 
     Acceptance to the Government of Malaysia for defense articles 
     and services estimated to cost $80 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. 24-30

     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 Malaysia.
       (ii) Total Estimated Value:
       Major Defense Equipment * $26 million.
       Other $54 million.
       Total $80 million.
       Funding Source: National Funds.
       (iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or 
     Services under Consideration for Purchase:
       Major Defense Equipment (MDE):
       Ten (10) AN/AAQ-33 Sniper Advanced Targeting Pods.
       Non-MDE: Also included are technical data and publications; 
     personnel training; software and training equipment; U.S. 
     Government and contractor engineering, technical, and 
     logistics support services; and other related elements of 
     logistics and program support.
       (iv) Military Department: Navy (MF-P-LDA).
       (v) Prior Related Cases, if any: None.
       (vi) Sales Commission, Fee, etc., Paid, Offered, or Agreed 
     to be Paid: None known.
       (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: May 6, 2024.
       * as defined in Section 47 (6) of the Arms Export Control 
     Act.


                         Transmittal No. 24-30

     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 AN/AAQ-33 Sniper Advanced Targeting Pod is a single, 
     lightweight targeting pod for military aircraft that provides 
     positive target identification, autonomous tracking, global 
     positioning system coordinate generation capabilities 
     provided by Selected Availability Anti-Spoofing Module 
     (SAASM) or M-Code, and precise weapons guidance from extended 
     standoff ranges. It incorporates a high-definition mid-wave 
     Forward-Looking Infrared (FLIR), dual-mode laser, visible-
     light high-definition television, laser spot tracker, video, 
     data link, and a digital data recorder.
       2. The highest level of classification of defense articles, 
     components, and services included in this potential sale is 
     SECRET.
       3. 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.
       4. A determination has been made that Malaysia 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.
       5. All defense articles and services listed in this 
     transmittal have been authorized for release and export to 
     Malaysia.


                          POLICY JUSTIFICATION

                Malaysia--Sniper Advanced Targeting Pods

       The Government of Malaysia has requested to buy ten (10) 
     AN/AAQ-33 Sniper Advanced

[[Page S3591]]

     Targeting Pods. Also included are technical data and 
     publications; personnel training; software and training 
     equipment; U.S. Government and contractor engineering, 
     technical, and logistics support services; and other related 
     elements of logistics and program support. The estimated 
     total cost is $80 million.
       This proposed sale will support the foreign policy goals 
     and national security objectives of the United States by 
     improving the security of a key partner that is a force for 
     political stability and economic progress in the Indo-Pacific 
     region,
       The proposed sale will improve Malaysia's capability to 
     meet current and future threats by modernizing its current F/
     A-18D platform with a common targeting pod. This proposed 
     sale will also mitigate future obsolescence concerns and 
     allow the Royal Malaysian Air Force to meet future 
     operational requirements. Malaysia 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 contractor will be Lockheed Martin 
     Corporation, located in Orlando, FL, and The Boeing Company, 
     located in St. Louis, MO. There are no known offset 
     agreements proposed in connection with this potential sale.
       Implementation of this proposed sale wi11 not require the 
     assignment of any additional U.S. Government or contractor 
     representatives to Malaysia.
       There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness 
     as a result of this proposed sale.

                          ____________________