[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 115 (Thursday, July 11, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4543-S4544]
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)(1) of the Arms Export Control Act, as 
     amended, we are forwarding herewith Transmittal No. 24-47, 
     concerning the Army's proposed Letter(s) of Offer and 
     Acceptance to the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative 
     Office in the United States (TECRO) for defense articles and 
     services estimated to cost $60.2 million. We will issue a 
     news release to notify the public of this proposed sale upon 
     delivery of this letter to your office.
           Sincerely,
                                                       Mike Miller
                                  (For James A. Hursch, Director).
       Enclosures.


                         Transmittal No. 24-47

     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: Taipei Economic and Cultural 
     Representative Office in the United States (TECRO).
       (ii) Total Estimated Value:
       Major Defense Equipment* $55.5 million.
       Other $4.7 million.
       Total $60.2 million.
       Funding Source: National Funds.
       (iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or 
     Services under Consideration for Purchase:
       Major Defense Equipment (MDE):
       Seven hundred twenty (720) Switchblade 300 (SB300) All Up 
     Rounds (AURs) (includes 35 fly-to-buy AURs).
       One hundred one (101) SB300 fire control systems (FCS).
       Non-MDE: The following non-MDE will also be included: first 
     line spares packs; operator manuals; operator and maintenance 
     training; logistics and fielding support; Lot Acceptance 
     Testing (LAT); U.S. Government technical assistance, 
     including engineering services, program management, site 
     surveys, facilities, logistics, and maintenance evaluations; 
     quality assurance and de-processing team; field service 
     representative(s); transportation; and other related elements 
     of logistics and program support.
       (iv) Military Department: Army (TW-B-ZEC).
       (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: June 18, 2024.
       *As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export 
     Control Act.


                          POLICY JUSTIFICATION

   Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United 
States--Switchblade 300 Anti-Personnel and Anti-Armor Loitering Missile 
                                 System

       The Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in 
     the United States (TECRO) has requested to buy seven hundred 
     twenty (720) Switchblade 300 (SB300) All Up Rounds (AURs) 
     (includes 35 fly-to-buy AURs) and one hundred one (101) SB300 
     fire control systems (FCS). The following non-Major Defense 
     Equipment will also be included: first line spares packs; 
     operator manuals; operator and maintenance training; 
     logistics and fielding support; Lot Acceptance Testing (LAT); 
     U.S. Government technical assistance, including engineering 
     services, program management, site surveys, facilities, 
     logistics, and maintenance evaluations; quality assurance and 
     de-processing team; field service representative(s); 
     transportation; and other related elements of logistics and 
     program support. The estimated total cost is $60.2 million.
       This proposed sale is consistent with U.S. law and policy 
     as expressed in Public Law 96-8.
       This proposed sale serves U.S. national, economic, and 
     security interests by supporting the recipient's continuing 
     efforts to modernize its armed forces and to maintain a 
     credible defensive capability. The proposed sale will help 
     improve the security of the recipient and assist in 
     maintaining political stability, military balance, and 
     economic progress in the region.
       The proposed sale will improve the recipient's ability to 
     meet current and future threats. The recipient 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 AeroVironment, Inc., 
     located in Simi Valley, CA. There are no known offset 
     agreements proposed in connection with this potential sale.
       Implementation of this proposed sale will require the 
     assignment of eight U.S. Government and two contractor 
     representatives for a duration of up to five years to support 
     equipment fielding, training, and program management.
       There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness 
     because of this proposed sale.


                         Transmittal No. 24-47

     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 Switchblade 300 (SB300) is a loitering, self-
     contained, tube-launched, lightweight, manportable, day/
     night, direct-fire precision guided-missile system. It is 
     capable of line-of-sight and beyond line-of-sight 
     engagements, enabled by a live video feed from the missile to 
     the fire control system (FCS). This capability provides small 
     tactical units with organic, responsive precision fires. An 
     operator can fly to the target area, loiter, wave off, or 
     engage a target. A small, forward-firing fragmentation 
     warhead defeats stationary or moving personnel and light 
     vehicles while reducing potential collateral damage.

[[Page S4544]]

  

       2. The highest level of classification of defense articles, 
     components, and services included in this potential sale is 
     Controlled Unclassified Information.
       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 the recipient 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 
     the recipient.

                          ____________________