[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 87 (Monday, May 20, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3775-S3776]
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. 23-57,
concerning the Air Force's proposed Letter(s) of Offer and
Acceptance to the NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA)
for defense articles and services estimated to cost $250.2
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. 23-57
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: NATO Support and Procurement
Agency (NSPA).
(ii) Total Estimated Value:
Major Defense Equipment * $0.
Other $250.2 million.
Total $250.2 million.
Funding Source: National Funds.
(i) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or
Services under Consideration for Purchase: Foreign Military
Sales case W4-D-QAF was below the congressional notification
threshold at $40.26 million ($0 in MDE) and included Alliance
Ground Surveillance (AGS) system equipment and support,
including: AN/APG-68 radar processors; Global Hawk engine
controllers; classified and unclassified spare components and
parts; consumables and accessories; repair and return
support; facilities support including storage; classified and
unclassified publications and technical documentation;
classified and unclassified software delivery and support;
transportation 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 NATO Support and Procurement Agency
(NSPA) has requested that the case be amended to include non-
MDE communications equipment spares and additional items and
services. This amendment will cause the case to exceed the
total case value notification threshold, and thus
notification of the entire program is required.
The above notification requirements are combined as
follows:
Major Defense Equipment (MDE): None.
Non-MDE: The following non-MDE items are included: AGS
system equipment and support; AN/APG-68 radar processors;
Global Hawk engine controllers; communications equipment
spares; classified and unclassified spare components and
parts; consumables, accessories, repair and return support;
facilities support including storage; classified and
unclassified publications and technical documentation;
classified and unclassified software delivery and support;
transportation support; U.S. Government and contractor
engineering, technical, and logistics support services;
studies and surveys; and other related elements of logistics
and program support.
(ii) Military Department: Air Force (W4-D-QAF).
(iii) Prior Related Cases, if any: None.
(iv) Sales Commission, Fee, etc., Paid, Offered, or Agreed
to be Paid: None known at this time.
(v) Sensitivity of Technology Contained in the Defense
Article or Defense Services Proposed to be Sold: See Attached
Annex.
(vi) Date Report Delivered to Congress: May 16, 2024.
*1AAs defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control
Act.
POLICY JUSTIFICATION
NATO Support and Procurement Agency--Alliance Ground Surveillance
Program Equipment and Support
The NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) has
requested to buy communications equipment spares and
additional items and services that will be added to a
previously implemented case whose value was under the
congressional notification threshold. The original Foreign
Military Sales case, valued at $40.26 million, included
Alliance Ground Surveillance (AGS) system equipment and
support, including: AN/APG-68 radar processors; Global Hawk
engine controllers; classified and unclassified spare
components and parts; consumables and accessories; repair and
return support; facilities support including storage;
classified and unclassified publications and technical
documentation; classified and unclassified software delivery
and support; transportation support; U.S. Government and
contractor engineering, technical, and logistics support
services; studies and surveys; and other related elements of
logistics and program support. This notification is for the
combined non-MDE AGS system equipment and services,
including: AN/APG-68 radar processors; Global Hawk engine
controllers; communications equipment spares; classified and
unclassified spare components and parts; consumables,
accessories, and repair and return support; facilities
support including storage; classified and unclassified
publications and technical documentation; classified and
unclassified software delivery and support; transportation
support; U.S. Government and contractor engineering,
technical, and logistics support services; studies and survey
and other related elements of logistics and program support.
The estimated total cost is $250.2 million.
This proposed sale will support the foreign policy goals
and national security objectives of the United States by
improving the security of NATO partners that are a force for
political stability and economic progress in the North
Atlantic region.
The proposed sale will improve NATO's capability to meet
current and future threats by improving and sustaining Allied
intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities.
NATO will have no difficulty absorbing this equipment and
services into its armed forces.
[[Page S3776]]
The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not
alter the basic military balance in the region.
The principal contractor will be Northrop Grumman located
in Mojave, CA. 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 NATO.
There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness
as a result of this proposed sale.
Transmittal No. 23-57
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:
1. This sale includes sensitive classified and unclassified
spare components to sustain the aircraft, engine, and AN/APG-
68 Synthetic Aperture Radar.
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 advance capabilities.
4. A determination has been made that NATO 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
NATO.
____________________