[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 115 (Thursday, July 11, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Page 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. 24-56,
concerning the Navy'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 $300 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. 24-56
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* 0.
Other $300 million.
Total $300 million.
Funding source: National Funds.
(iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or
Services under Consideration for Purchase:
Major Defense Equipment (MDE):
None.
Non-MDE: The following non-MDE is included: ALTIUS 600M-V
systems, comprised of an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV)
loitering munition with extensible warhead and electro-
optical/infrared (EO/IR) camera; ALTIUS 600 inert training
UAVs; Pneumatic Integrated Launch Systems (PILS); PILS
transport trailers; ground control systems; associated
support, including spares; battery chargers; operator and
maintenance training; operator, maintenance, and training
manuals; technical manuals; logistics and fielding support;
testing; technical assistance CONUS and OCONUS, including for
engineering services; program management; site surveys;
facility, logistics and maintenance evaluations; quality
assurance and deprocessing team support; field service
representative support; transportation; and other related
elements of logistics and program support.
(iv) Military Department: Navy (TW-P-AMC).
(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: 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--ALTIUS 600M-V Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
The Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in
the United States (TECRO) has requested to buy the following
non-MDE: ALTIUS 600M-V systems, comprised of an Unmanned
Aerial Vehicle (UAV) loitering munition with extensible
warhead and electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) camera; ALTIUS
600 inert training UAVs; Pneumatic Integrated Launch Systems
(PILS); PILS transport trailers; ground control systems;
associated support, including spares; battery chargers;
operator and maintenance training; operator, maintenance, and
training manuals; technical manuals; logistics and fielding
support; testing; technical assistance CONUS and OCONUS,
including for engineering services; program management; site
surveys; facility, logistics and maintenance evaluations;
quality assurance and de-processing team support; field
service representative support; transportation; and other
related elements of logistics and program support. The
estimated total cost is $300 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 Anduril, located in
Atlanta, GA. There are no known offset agreements proposed in
connection with this potential sale.
Implementation of this proposed sale will require
assignment of 5 U.S. Government and 12 contractor
representatives for a duration of up to two 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. 24-56
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 ALTIUS 600M-V system is composed of an Unmanned
Aerial Vehicle (UAV), Pneumatic Integrated Launch System
(PILS), payload, and associated support. Each UAV is
integrated with a command-and-control radio and assured
positioning, navigation, and timing modules. The ALTIUS 600M-
V system is designed for expeditionary deployment by air,
mobile, ground, or maritime forces. It leverages autonomy to
allow a single operator to control multiple UAVs
simultaneously. The PILS is a reusable launcher holding up to
one UAV at a time per canister. The UAV's payload is an
electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) camera and extensible
warhead, which provides a loitering munition capability. The
ALTIUS 600M-V can operate up to 18,000 feet above ground
level with an endurance of approximately 90 minutes, a range
of up to 160km, and a dash speed of 1851 km/hour, dependent
on payload.
2. The highest level of classification of defense articles,
components, and services included in this potential sale is
UNCLASSIFIED.
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
transmittaI have been authorized for release and export to
the recipient.
____________________