[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.

                          ____________________