[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 33 (Wednesday, February 19, 2025)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1038-S1039]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
ARMS SALES NOTIFICATIONS
Mr. RISCH. 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:
[[Page S1039]]
Defense Security
Cooperation Agency,
Washington, DC.
Hon. James E. Risch,
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. 24-110,
concerning the Air Force's proposed Letter(s) of Offer and
Acceptance to the Government of Romania for defense articles
and services estimated to cost $84 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. 24-110
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 Romania.
(ii) Total Estimated Value:
Major Defense Equipment * $41 million.
Other $43 million.
Total $84 million.
Funding Source: National Funds
(iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or
Services under Consideration for Purchase:
Major Defense Equipment (MDE):
Four hundred (400) Guided Bomb Unit (GBU)-39B Small
Diameter Bombs (SDB-I). Two (2) GBU-39 (T-1)/B inert practice
bombs with fuze.
Non-Major Defense Equipment:
The following non-MDE items will also be included: GBU-39
tactical training rounds; Common Munitions Built-In-Test
(BIT)/Reprogramming Equipment (CMBRE); ADU-890E Computer Test
Set Adapter Groups; containers, weapons system support, and
support and test equipment; training aids, devices, and spare
parts; consumables and accessories, and repair and return
support; publications and technical data; personnel training
and training equipment; warranties; transportation support;
site surveys; U.S. Government and contractor engineering,
logistics, and technical support services; and other related
elements of logistics and program support.
(iv) Military Department: Air Force (RO-D-YAB).
(v) Prior Related Cases, if any: None.
(vi) Sales Commission, Fee, etc., Paid, Offered, or Agreed
to be Paid: None known at this time.
(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: February 18,
2025.
* As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control
Act.
policy justification
Romania--GBU-39B Small Diameter Bombs
The Government of Romania has requested to buy four hundred
(400) Guided Bomb Unit (GBU)-39B Small Diameter Bombs (SDB-
I), and two (2) GBU-39 (T-1)/B inert practice bombs with
fuze. The following non-MDE items will also be included: GBU-
39 tactical training rounds; Common Munitions Built-In-Test
(BIT)/Reprogramming Equipment (CMBRE); ADU 890E Computer Test
Set Adapter Groups; containers, weapons system support, and
support and test equipment; training aids, devices, and spare
parts; consumables and accessories, and repair and return
support; publications and technical data; personnel training
and training equipment; warranties; transportation support;
site surveys; U.S. Government and contractor engineering,
logistics, and technical support services; and other related
elements of logistics and program support. The estimated
total cost is $84 million.
This proposed sale will support the foreign policy goals
and national security objectives of the United States by
improving the security of a NATO Ally that is an important
force for political and economic stability in Europe.
This proposed sale will improve Romania's capability to
meet current and future threats by increasing its ability to
deter and defend against all threats and to participate in
NATO coalition air operations. Romania will have no
difficulty absorbing these articles and services 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 Boeing Company,
located in St. Louis, MO. At this time, the U.S. Government
is not aware of any offset agreement proposed in connection
with this potential sale. 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 Romania.
There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness
as a result of this proposed sale.
transmittal no. 24-110
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 Guided Bomb Unit (GBU)-39 Small Diameter Bomb
Increment 1 (SDB-I) All Up Round (AUR) is a 250-pound GPS-
aided conventional air-to-ground precision glide weapon with
an inertial navigation system and small autonomous, day or
night, and adverse weather capabilities able to strike fixed
and stationary targets from standoff ranges. It is intended
to provide aircraft with an ability to carry a high number of
bombs. Aircraft are able to carry four SDBs in place of one
2,000-pound bomb.
2. The GBU-39/B inert practice bombs with fuze are
identical to a live tactical weapon except that the live
warhead is replaced with an inert fill. These bombs are
suited for training missions where a flight termination
system or collection of telemetry data is not a necessity.
3. Common Munitions Built-In-Test (BIT)/Reprogramming
Equipment (CMBRE) is support equipment used to interface with
weapon systems to initiate and report BIT results, and upload
and download flight software. CMBRE supports multiple
munitions platforms with a range of applications that perform
preflight checks, periodic maintenance checks, loading of
Operational Flight Program (OFP) data, loading of munitions
mission planning data, loading of Global Positioning System
(GPS) cryptographic keys, and declassification of munitions
memory.
4. The ADU-891 Adapter Group Test Set provides the physical
and electrical interface between the CMBRE and the bomb.
5. The highest level of classification of defense articles,
components, and services included in this potential sale is
SECRET.
6. 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 system effectiveness or be used in the
development of a system with similar or advanced
capabilities.
7. A determination has been made that Romania 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.
8. All defense articles and services listed in this
transmittal have been authorized for release and export to
the Government of Romania.
____________________