[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 140 (Tuesday, September 10, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5917-S5918]
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 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. 24-79,
concerning the Navy's proposed Letter(s) of Offer and
Acceptance to the Government of India for defense articles
and services estimated to cost $52.8 million. We will issue a
news release to notify the public of this proposed sale upon
delivery of this letter to your office.
Sincerely,
Michael F. Miller,
Acting Director.
Enclosures.
Transmittal No. 24-79
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 India.
(ii) Total Estimated Value:
Major Defense Equipment* $0.
Other $52.8 million.
Total $52.8 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: AN/SSQ-53G High Altitude Anti-Submarine Warfare
(HAASW) sonobuoys; AN/SSQ-62F HAASW sonobuoys; AN/SSQ-36
sonobuoys; technical and publications and data documentation;
U.S. Government and contractor engineering and technical
support; and other related elements of logistics and program
services and support.
(iv) Military Department: Navy (IN-P-ABW).
(v) Prior Related Cases, if any: None.
(vi) Sales Commission, Fee, etc., Paid, Offered. or Agreed
to be Paid; None.
(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: August 23, 2024.
* As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export
Control Act.
POLICY JUSTIFICATION
India--Anti-Submarine Warfare Sonobuoys
The Government of India has requested to buy AN/SSQ-53O
High Altitude Anti-Submarine Warfare (HAASW) sonobuoys; AN/
SSQ-62F HAASW sonobuoys; AN/SSQ-36 sonobuoys; technical and
publications and data documentation; U.S. Government and
contractor engineering and technical support; and other
related elements of logistics and program services and
support. The estimated total cost is $52.8 million.
This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and
national security objectives of the United States by helping
to strengthen the United States-India strategic relationship
and improving the security of a major defense partner which
continues to be an important force for political stability,
peace,
[[Page S5918]]
and economic progress in the Inda-Pacific and South Asia
regions.
The proposed sale will improve India's capability to meet
current and future threats by enhancing its capacity to
conduct anti-submarine warfare operations from its MH-60R
helicopters. India 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(s) will be Spartan Corporation,
located in De Leon Springs, FL, or Undersea Sensor Systems
Inc. (USSI), located in Columbia City, IN, or a combination
of both. 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 India.
There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness
as a result of this proposed sale.
Transmittal No. 24-79
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. Sonobuoys are air launched, expendable, electro-
mechanical sensors designed to relay underwater sounds to
remote processors. Sonobuoys are an effective and affordable
antisubmarine warfare (ASW) capability for the airborne ASW
warfighter.
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 India 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 India.
____________________