[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 172 (Wednesday, November 20, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6673-S6674]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
ARMS SALES NOTIFICATIONS
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.
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 Transmitta1 No. 20-62
concerning the Army's proposed Letter(s) of Offer and
Acceptance to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for defense
articles and services estimated to cost $655 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,
Director.
Enclosures.
TRANSMITTAL NO. 20-62
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: Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
(ii) Total Estimated Value:
Major Defense Equipment* $653 million.
Other $2 million.
Total $655 million.
Funding Source: National Funds.
(iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or
Services under Consideration for Purchase:
Major Defense Equipment (MDE):
Two Thousand Five Hundred Three (2,503) AGM-114R3 Hellfire
II Missiles (3 for lot acceptance testing).
Non-MDE: Also included are support and test equipment;
integration and test support;
[[Page S6674]]
spare and repair parts; software delivery and support;
publications and technical documentation; personnel training
and training equipment; U.S. Government and contractor
engineering, technical and logistics support services;
storage; and other related elements of logistical and program
support.
(iv) Military Department: Army (SR-B-WCZ).
(v) Prior Related Cases, if any: SR-B-WAL.
(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: October 11, 2024.
*As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control
Act.
POLICY JUSTIFICATION
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia--AGM-114R3 Hellfire II Missiles
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has requested to buy Two
Thousand Five Hundred Three (2,503) AGM-114R3 Hellfire II
missiles (3 for lot acceptance testing). Also included are
support and test equipment; integration and test support;
spare and repair parts; software delivery and support;
publications and technical documentation; personnel training
and training equipment; U.S. Government and contractor
engineering, technical and logistics support services;
storage; and other related elements of logistical and program
support. The total estimated cost is $655 million.
This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and
national security of the United States by helping to improve
the security of a friendly country that continues to be an
important force for political and economic progress in the
Middle East.
The proposed sale will improve Saudi Arabia's capability to
meet current and future threats and improve interoperability
with systems operated by U.S. Forces and other Gulf
countries. Saudi Arabia's continued investment in its
defensive capabilities is crucial to protecting its borders,
energy infrastructure, and its residents. Saudi Arabia will
have no difficulty absorbing these missiles 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 The Lockheed Martin
Corporation, Troy, 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 not require the
assignment of any additional U.S. Government or contractor
representatives to Saudi Arabia. The only additional U.S.
military support required would be Technical Assistance Field
Team (TAFT) visits during training phases.
There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness
as a result of this proposed sale.
TRANSMITTAL NO. 20-62
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 AGM-114R3 Hellfire II missile is a precision strike,
Semi-Active Laser (SAL)-guided missile and is the principal
air-to-ground weapon for the Army. The AGM-114R3 Hellfire II
missile provides the warfighter with an air-to-ground, point-
target precision strike capability to defeat advanced armor
and an array of traditional and nontraditional targets.
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 hardware and software elements, the
information could be used to develop countermeasures or
equivalent systems which might reduce system effectiveness or
be used in the development of a system with similar or
advanced capabilities.
4. A determination has been made that the Government of
Saudi Arabia 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 are authorized for release and export to the
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
____________________