[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 126 (Thursday, August 1, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5762-S5763]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
ARMS SALES NOTIFICATION
Mr. CARDIN. Madam 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.
[[Page S5763]]
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. 24-62,
concerning the Air Force's proposed Letter(s) of Offer and
Acceptance to the Government of Belgium for defense articles
and services estimated to cost $115 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. 24-62
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 Belgium.
(ii) Total Estimated Value:
Major Defense Equipment * $78 million.
Other $37 million.
Total $115 million.
(iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or
Services under Consideration for Purchase:
Major Defense Equipment (MDE):
One hundred ninety-six (196) Guided Bomb Unit (GBU)-53/B
Small Diameter Bombs-Increment II (SDB-II) All-Up-Rounds
(AURs)
Non-MDE: Also included are SDB-II Weapons Load Crew
Trainers (WLCT); training aids and devices; spare and repair
parts, consumables, accessories, and repair and return
support; unclassified software delivery and support;
unclassified publications and technical documentation; major
modifications and maintenance support; training and training
equipment; munitions support and support equipment;
transportation support; studies and surveys; U.S. Government
and contractor engineering, technical, and logistics support
services; and other related elements of logistics and program
support.
(iv) Military Department: Air Force (BE-D-YCA).
(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: July 25, 2024.
* As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control
Act.
POLICY JUSTIFICATION
Belgium--Small Diameter Bomb-Increment II
The Government of Belgium has requested to buy one hundred
ninety-six (196) Guided Bomb Unit (GBU)-53/B Small Diameter
Bombs-Increment II (SDB-II) All-Up-Rounds (AURs). Also
included are SDB-II Weapons Load Crew Trainers (WLCT);
training aids and devices; spare and repair parts,
consumables, accessories, and repair and return support;
unclassified software delivery and support; unclassified
publications and technical documentation; major modifications
and maintenance support; training and training equipment;
munitions support and support equipment; transportation
support; studies and surveys; 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 $115 million.
This proposed sale will support the foreign policy goals
and national security objectives of the United States by
improving the security of a NATO Ally that is a force for
political stability and economic progress in Europe.
The proposed sale will improve Belgium's capability to meet
current and future threats by maintaining its F-35 fleet in
combat-ready status and providing a credible deterrent to
regional threats. Belgium will have no difficulty absorbing
these articles and services 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 RTX Corporation, located
in Arlington, VA. 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 Belgium.
There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness
as a result of this proposed sale.
Transmittal No. 24-62
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 GBU-53/B Small Diameter Bomb-Increment II (SDB-II)
is a 250-pound class precision-guided, semiautonomous,
conventional, air-to-ground munition used to defeat moving
targets from standoff range. The SDB-II has deployable wings
and fins and uses Global Positioning System/Inertial
Navigation System (GPS/INS) guidance enabled by Selective
Availability Anti-Spoofing Module (SAASM) or M-Code, network-
enabled datalink (Link-16 and ultra-high frequency), and a
multi-mode seeker (millimeter wave radar, imaging infrared,
semi-active laser) to autonomously search, acquire, track,
and defeat a variety of moving or stationary targets, at
standoff range or close in, in a variety of attack modes, in
clear or adverse weather. The SDB-II employs a multi-effects
warhead (blast, fragmentation, and shaped-charge) for maximum
lethality against armored and soft targets. The SDB-II weapon
system consists of the tactical All-Up-Round (AUR) weapon, a
4-place common carriage system, and Mission Planning System
Munitions Application Program (MAP).
The SDB-II Weapon Load Crew Trainer (WLCT) is a mass mockup
of the tactical AUR used for load crew and maintenance
training. It does not contain energetics, a live fuze, any
sensitive components, or hazardous material. It is not flight
certified.
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 Belgium 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 Government of Belgium.
____________________