[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 140 (Tuesday, September 10, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Page S5930]
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 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)(5)(A) of the Arms Export Control Act (AECA),
as amended, we are forwarding Transmittal No. 0F-24. This
notification relates to enhancements or upgrades from the
level of sensitivity of technology or capability described in
the Section 36(b)(1) AECA certification 15-54 of October 5,
2015.
Sincerely,
Michael F. Miller,
Acting Director.
Enclosure.
Transmittal No. 0F-24
Report of Enhancement or Upgrade of Sensitivity of Technology
or Capability (Sec. 36(b)(5)(A)), (AECA)
(i) Purchaser: Government of Spain.
(ii) Sec. 36(b)(l), AECA Transmittal No.: 15-54; Date:
October 5, 2015; Implementing Agency: Air Force.
(iii) Description: On October 5, 2015, Congress was
notified by congressional certification transmittal number
15-54 of the possible sale, under Section 36(b)(1) of the
Arms Export Control Act, of four (4) MQ-9 Block 5 Remotely
Piloted Aircraft; twenty (20) Embedded Global Positioning
System/Inertial Guidance Unit (EGI) (3 per aircraft, and 8
spares); two (2) Mobile Ground Control Stations (MGCS); five
(5) Multi-Spectral Targeting Systems (MTS-B) (1 per aircraft,
1 spare); and five (5) Synthetic Aperture Radar, Lynx AN/APY-
8 (1 per aircraft, 1 spare). The estimated total cost was
$243 million. Major Defense Equipment (MDE) constituted $80
million of this total.
On September 19, 2019, Congress was notified by
congressional certification transmittal number 0W-19 of the
possible sale, under 36(b)(5)(A) of the Arms Export Control
Act, of an additional one (1) Mobile Ground Control Station
(MGCS). The addition of this MGCS equipment resulted in an
increase in MDE cost of $4 million, resulting in a revised
MDE value of $84 million. The total case value remained $243
million.
This transmittal reports modification, support, sustainment
equipment, and U.S. Government and contractor technical and
logistics support services that will be offered to Spain to
enable the employment of weapons on the previously notified
MQ-9 Remotely Piloted Aircraft. There is no increase in cost
of MDE or total case value. The sale of the items needed to
weaponize the aircraft will be reported separately.
(iv) Significance: The inclusion of this equipment and
support represents an increase in capability over what was
previously notified. The proposed sale of articles and
services will support Spain's efforts to build and sustain
intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) and
strike capabilities.
(v) Justification: This proposed sale will support the
foreign policy and national security objectives of the United
States by helping to improve the security of a NATO Ally
which is an important force for political stability and
economic progress in Europe.
(vi) Sensitivity of Technology: The Sensitivity of
Technology Statement contained in the original notification
applies to items reported here.
(vii) Date Report Delivered to Congress: August 8, 2024.
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