[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.
____________________