[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 167 (Wednesday, November 13, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6556-S6557]
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)(1) of the Arms Export Control Act, as
amended, we are forwarding herewith Transmittal No. 24-105,
concerning the Army's proposed Letter(s) of Offer and
Acceptance to the Government of Switzerland for defense
articles and services estimated to cost $450 million. We will
issue a news release to notify the public of this proposed
sale upon delivery of this letter to your office.
Sincerely,
J. Aaron Harding
(For Michael F. Miller, Director).
Enclosures.
transmittal no. 24-105
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 Switzerland.
(ii) Total Estimated Value:
Major Defense Equipment* $0.
Other $450 million.
Total $450 million.
(iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or
Services under Consideration for Purchase: The Government of
Switzerland has requested to buy sustainment support for its
five (5) PATRIOT Fire Units and missile inventory.
Major Defense Equipment (MDE): None.
Non-Major Defense Equipment: The following non-MDE items
will be included: general electronic test station equipment
and program sets; Foreign Liaison Officer support;
international engineering services; Field Surveillance
Program; modification and upgrade kits; unclassified and
classified repair and return; classified missile processing;
unclassified and classified spares; transportation;
publications and technical documentation; training; U.S.
Government and contractor technical, engineering, and
logistics support services; and other related elements of
logistics and program support.
(iv) Military Department: Army (SZ-B-UAV).
(v) Prior Related Cases, if any: SZ-B-UAS.
(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: None.
(viii) Date Report Delivered to Congress: October 28, 2024.
*As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control
Act.
policy justification
Switzerland--PATRIOT Sustainment
The Government of Switzerland has requested to buy
sustainment support for its five (5) PATRIOT Fire Units and
missile inventory. The following non-MDE items will be
included: general electronic test station equipment and
program sets; Foreign Liaison Officer support; international
engineering services; Field Surveillance Program;
modification and upgrade kits; unclassified and classified
repair and return, classified missile processing;
unclassified and classified spares; transportation;
publications and technical documentation; training; U.S.
Government and contractor technical, engineering, and
logistics support services; and other related elements of
logistics and program support. The total estimated cost is
$450 million.
This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and
national security objectives of the United States by helping
to improve the security of a friendly European nation that
continues to be an important force for political stability
and economic progress within Europe.
The proposed sale supports Switzerland's goal of
maintaining national and territorial defense as well as
interoperability with U.S. and other European forces.
Switzerland will have no difficulty absorbing this equipment
and services into its armed forces.
The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not
alter the basic military balance in the region.
[[Page S6557]]
The prime contractors will be RTX Corporation, located in
Tewksbury, MA; Lockheed Martin, located in Dallas, TX; and
Leidos, located in Huntsville, AL. The purchaser typically
requests offsets. Any offset agreement will be defined in
negotiations between the purchaser and the contractor.
Implementation of this proposed sale will require no U.S.
Government representatives, but will require approximately
ten contractor representatives to travel to Switzerland for
an extended period of time to provide technical support.
There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness
as a result of this proposed sale.
____________________