[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 4 (Wednesday, January 8, 2025)]
[Senate]
[Pages S60-S61]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
MORNING BUSINESS
______
ARMS SALES NOTIFICATIONS
Mr. RISCH. 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 Transmittal No. 24-108,
concerning the Army's proposed Letter(s) of Offer and
Acceptance to the Government of Greece for defense articles
and services estimated to cost $130 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. 24-108
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 Greece.
(ii) Total Estimated Value:
Major Defense Equipment * $0.
Other $130 million.
Total $130 million.
Funding Source: Foreign Military Financing and National
Funds.
(iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or
Services under Consideration for Purchase: Foreign Military
Sales (FMS) case GR-B-IAO was below congressional
notification threshold at $99.99 million ($0 in MDE) and
included Ml 117 wheeled Armored Security Vehicles (ASV)
(through the Excess Defense Article program); MK19
Modification (MOD) 4 Up-Gunned Weapon Systems (UGWS);
Concurrent Spare Parts (CSP) packages; spare barrels; U.S.
Government and contractor vehicle spare parts; vehicle
Special Tools and Test Equipment (STTE); vehicle Basic Issue
Items (BII); Simplified Nonstandard Acquisition Program
(SNAP) spare parts; U.S. Government case management and
technical assistance; facility-required equipment; New
Equipment Training (NET); Field Service Representative
support; Joint Visual Inspection with U.S. Army Tank-
Automotive and Armaments Command (TACOM) technical
assistance; Packaging, Crating, and Handling with follow-on
transportation; and other related elements of logistics and
program support.
The Government of Greece has requested that the case be
amended to include Aerosonde Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS)
with Lycoming heavy-fuel engines; Global Positioning System
(GPS) with Selective Availability Anti-Spoofing Module
(SAASM) or M-Code; TASE400 Electro Optical (EO)/Medium Wave
Infrared (MWIR)/Long-Range Spotter-High Definition (LRS-HD)
payloads; avionics; video and telemetry datalink subsystems
and secondary payload bays; Ground Control Stations; ground
data terminals; launch and recovery trailers; ground support
equipment; ``fly as you drive'' M1117 ASV interface kits and
integration; initial spares package; initial spares
replenishment; new equipment training; program management
support; contractor logistics support and Field Service
Representative support; technical data and publications;
quality assurance services; U.S. Government and contractor
engineering, technical, and logistics support services; and
other related elements of logistics and program support. This
amendment will cause the case to exceed the notification
threshold, and thus notification of the entire program is
required. The above notification requirements are combined as
follows:
Major Defense Equipment (MDE): None.
Non-Major Defense Equipment: The following non-MDE items
will be included: Ml 117 wheeled Armored Security Vehicles
(ASV) (through the Excess Defense Article program); MK19
Modification (MOD) 4 Up-Gunned Weapon Systems (UGWS);
Concurrent Spare Parts (CSP) packages; spare barrels; U.S.
Government and contractor vehicle spare parts; vehicle
Special Tools and Test Equipment (STTE); vehicle Basic Issue
Items (BII); Simplified Nonstandard Acquisition Program
(SNAP) spare parts; U.S. Government case management and
technical assistance; facility-required equipment; New
Equipment Training (NET); Field Service Representative
support; Joint Visual Inspection with U.S. Army Tank-
Automotive and Armaments Command (TACOM) technical
assistance; Packaging, Crating, and Handling with follow-on
transportation; and other related elements of logistics and
program support; Aerosonde Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS)
with Lycoming heavy-fuel engines; Global Positioning System
(GPS) with Selective Availability Anti-Spoofing Module
(SAASM) or M-Code; TASE400 Long-Range Spotters; avionics;
video and telemetry datalink subsystems; Ground Control
Stations; ground data terminals; launch and recovery
trailers; ground support equipment; ``fly as you drive''
M1117 ASV interface kits and integration; initial spares
package; initial spares replenishment; new equipment
training; program management support; contractor logistics
support and Field Service Representative support; technical
data and publications; quality assurance services; U.S.
Government and contractor engineering, technical, and
logistics support services; and other related elements of
logistics and program support.
(iv) Military Department: Army (GR-B-IAO).
(v) Prior Related Cases, if any: None.
(vi) Sales Commission, Fee, etc., Paid, Offered, or Agreed
to be Paid: None known.
(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: December 20,
2024.
*As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control
Act.
POLICY JUSTIFICATION
Greece--Aerosonde Uncrewed Aircraft Systems and Armored Security
Vehicles
The Government of Greece has requested to buy Aerosonde
Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS) with Lycoming heavy-fuel
engines; Global Positioning System (GPS) with Selective
Availability Anti-Spoofing Module (SAASM) or M-Code; TASE400
Long-Range Spotters; avionics; video and telemetry datalink
subsystems; Ground Control Stations; ground data terminals;
launch and recovery trailers; ground support equipment; ``fly
as you drive'' M1117 ASV interface kits and integration;
initial spares package; initial spares replenishment; new
equipment training; program management support; contractor
logistics support and Field Service Representative support;
technical data and publications; quality assurance services;
U.S. Government and contractor engineering, technical, and
logistics support services; and other related elements of
logistics and program support, that will be added to a
previously implemented case whose value was under the
congressional notification threshold.
The original Foreign Military Sales (FMS) case, valued at
$99.99 million ($0 in MDE), included M1117 wheeled Armored
Security Vehicles (ASV) (through the Excess Defense Article
program); MK19 Modification (MOD) 4 Up-Gunned Weapon Systems
(UGWS); Concurrent Spare Parts (CSP) packages; spare barrels;
U.S. Government and contractor vehicle spare parts; vehicle
Special Tools and Test Equipment (STTE); vehicle Basic Issue
Items (BII); Simplified Nonstandard Acquisition Program
(SNAP) spare parts; U.S. Government case management and
technical assistance; facility-required equipment; New
Equipment Training (NET); Field Service Representative
support; Joint Visual Inspection with U.S. Army Tank-
Automotive and Armaments Command (TACOM) technical
assistance; Packaging, Crating, and Handling with follow-on
transportation; and other related elements of logistics and
program support. The estimated total cost is $130 million.
This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and
national security of the United States by improving the
security of a NATO
[[Page S61]]
Ally that continues to be a force for political and economic
stability in Europe.
The proposed sale will improve Greece's capability to deter
current and future threats, support coalition operations, and
increase interoperability with the United States. Greece 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 will be Textron Systems, located
in Hunt Valley, MD. There are no known offset agreements in
connection with this potential sale.
Implementation of this proposed sale will require
approximately eighteen U.S. Government and/or eighteen
contractor representatives to travel to Greece for an
extended period for equipment de-processing and fielding,
system checkout, training, and technical and logistics
support.
There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness
as a result of this proposed sale.
Transmittal No. 24-108
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 NovAtel OEM625S Global Positioning System (GPS)
receiver is a small form factor combination of robust
Selective Availability Anti-Spoofing Module (SAASM) GPS
positioning. When keyed, the OEM625S provides a Real-Time
Kinematic (RTK) Precise Positioning System (PPS) solution.
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 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 Greece can provide
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
Government of Greece.
Certification PURSUANT TO 620C(d) of the Foreign Assistance
Act of 1961, as Amended
Pursuant to Section 620C(d) of the Foreign Assistance Act
of 1961, as amended (the Act), Executive Order 12163, State
Department Delegation of Authority No. 293-2, and State
Department Delegation of Authority 510; I hereby certify that
the furnishing to Greece of Uncrewed Aircraft Systems,
Armored Security Vehicles, and related defense articles and
services is consistent with the principles contained in
Section 620C(b) of the Act.
This certification will be made part of the notification to
Congress under Section 36(b) of the Arms Export Control Act,
as amended, regarding the proposed sale of the above-named
articles and services and is based on the justification
accompanying such notification, of which such justification
constitutes a full explanation.
Bonnie Jenkins,
Under Secretary for Arms Control
and International Security.
____________________