[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.
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