[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 53 (Monday, March 24, 2025)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1798-S1799]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
ARMS SALES NOTIFICATION
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:
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. 24-124,
concerning the Navy's proposed Letter(s) of Offer and
Acceptance to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for defense
articles and services estimated to cost $100 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. 24-124
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* $70 million.
Other $30 million.
Total $100 million.
[[Page S1799]]
Funding Source: National Funds.
(iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or
Services under Consideration for Purchase:
Major Defense Equipment (MDE): Two thousand (2,000)
Advanced Precision Kill Weapon Systems (APKWS).
Non-Major Defense Equipment: The following non-MDE items
will be included: APKWS spare parts; support equipment;
missile software; training; U.S. Government and contractor
engineering, technical, and logistics support services; and
other related elements of logistics and program support.
(iv) Military Department: Navy (SI-P-AAA).
(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: March 20, 2025.
*As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export
Control Act.
policy justification
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia--Advanced Precision Kill Weapon Systems
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has requested to buy two
thousand (2,000) Advanced Precision Kill Weapon Systems
(APKWS). The following non-MDE items will be included: APKWS
spare parts; support equipment; missile software; training;
U.S. Government and contractor engineering, technical, and
logistics support services; and other related elements of
logistics and program support. The estimated total cost is
$100 million.
This proposed sale will support the foreign policy goals
and national security objectives of the United States by
improving the security of a partner country that is a force
for political stability and economic progress in the Gulf
Region.
The proposed sale will improve the Kingdom of Saudi
Arabia's capability to meet current and future threats and
give it the ability to precisely engage targets with much
less risk of collateral damage than other guided missile
systems. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia 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 BAE Systems, Inc., located
in Falls Church, VA. 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 require the
assignment of up to two additional U.S. Government and up to
two contractor representatives annually to Saudi Arabia for a
duration of one week for program technical support and
management oversight.
There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness
as a result of this proposed sale.
transmittal no. 24-124
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 WGU-59/B Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System-II
(APKWS-II) All-Up-Round (AUR) (Rotary Wing) and WGU-59A/B
APKWS-II AUR (Single Variant) are a design conversion of an
unguided Hydra 2.75-inch rocket with a laser guidance kit to
provide precision capability. As a low-cost weapon, it is
intended as an inexpensive means to destroy targets while
limiting collateral damage. The APKWS consists of an APKWS-II
Guidance Section (GS) (Single Variant Block Upgrade (SVBU))
developed by BAE Systems, Inc., a legacy 2.75-inch MK66 Mod 4
Rocket Motor, and the MK-151 or MK-152 High Explosive
Warhead.
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 or 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.
4. A determination has been made that the Kingdom 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 have been authorized for release and export to
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
____________________