[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 55 (Wednesday, March 26, 2025)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1864-S1867]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
MORNING BUSINESS
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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 S1865]]
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. 25-16,
concerning the Air Force's proposed Letter(s) of Offer and
Acceptance to the Government of Qatar for defense articles
and services estimated to cost $1.96 billion. 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. 25-16
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 Qatar.
(ii) Total Estimated Value:
Major Defense Equipment * $0.34 billion.
Other $ 1.62 billion.
Total $ 1.96 billion.
Funding Source: National Funds.
(iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or
Services under Consideration for Purchase:
Major Defense Equipment (MDE):
Eight (8) MQ-9B Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA).
Two hundred (200) KMU-572 Joint Direct Attack Munition
(JDAM) tail kits for Guided Bomb Unit (GBU)-38 or Laser JDAM
GBU-54.
Three hundred (300) BLU-111 500-lb general purpose bombs.
One hundred (100) MXU-650 air foil groups (AFG) for Paveway
11 GBU-12.
One hundred (100) MAU-169 computer control groups (CCG) for
Paveway II GBU-12.
Twenty-eight (28) Embedded Global Positioning System (GPS)/
Inertial Navigation System (INS) (EGI) security devices with
M-Code.
Twelve (12) EGI security devices with Selective
Availability Anti-Spoofing Modules (SAASM).
Ten (10) Lynx AN/APY-8 Synthetic Aperture Radars (SAR).
Ten (10) L3 Rio Grande communications intelligence (COMINT)
sensor suites.
One hundred ten (110) AGM-114R2 Hellfire II missiles.
Eight (8) M36E9 Hellfire Captive Air Training Missiles
(CATM).
Non-Major Defense Equipment: The following non-MDE items
will also be included: Honeywell TPE-331 turboprop engines;
Certifiable Ground Control Stations (CGCS); FMU-139D/B fuze
systems; DSU-38 laser illuminated target detectors for GBU-
54; KY-100M narrowband/wideband terminals; AN/PYQ-10 Simple
Key Loaders (SKLs); Keying Identification Verification (KIV)-
77 Mode 5 Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) cryptographic
appliques; Intrusion Prevention System (IPS)-250X High
Assurance Internet Protocol Encryptor (HAIPE) Type 1
cryptographic communications security (COMSEC) devices;
Cryptographic Core Modernization (CCM)-700A Type 1 COMSEC
chips; AN/DPX-7 IFF transponders; Link-16 KOR-24A Small
Tactical Terminals (STTs); Semi-Automatic Ground Environment
(SAGE) Electronic Surveillance Measure systems; AE-4500
Electronic Support Measure; Compact Multi-band Data Link
(CMDL); Remotely Operated Video Enhanced Receiver (ROVER) 6Si
compatible systems; Common Munitions Built-in-Test
Reprogramming Equipment (CMBRE) Plus Block II; Mayflower
Multi-Platform Anti-Jam GPS Navigation Antennas (MAGNA)-I,
AS-4841; imaging systems; Electro-Optical/Infrared (EO/IR)
Multi-Spectrum Targeting System (MTS); Active Electronically
Scanned Array (AESA) radars (SeaSpray 7500 maritime radars);
Due Regard Radar (DRR); Automatic Information System (AIS)
transponders; Rohde & Schwartz Ultra High Frequency (UHF)/
Very High Frequency (VHF) radios; satellite communications
(SATCOM) ground station antennas, modems, and terminals with
Unifi Security Gateway (USG) encryption; Ku-Band SATCOM GA-
ASI Transportable Earth Stations (GATES); secure SATCOM
systems; DSU-33D/B bomb components; M299 Longbow Hellfire
launchers; weapons loading equipment; spare and repair parts,
consumables and accessories, and repair and return support;
weapons integration; support and test equipment; facilities
and construction support; publications and technical
documentation; personnel training and training equipment;
transportation and airlift support; studies and surveys; U.S.
Government and contractor engineering, technical, and
logistics support services; and other related elements of
logistics and program support.
(iv) Military Department: Air Force (QA-D-SAA).
(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.
(vii) Date Report Delivered to Congress: March 26, 2025.
*As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export
Control Act.
Policy Justification
Qatar--MQ-9B Remotely Piloted Aircraft
The Government of Qatar has requested to buy eight (8) MQ-
9B Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA); two hundred (200) KMU-572
Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) tail kits for Guided Bomb
Unit (GBU)-38 or Laser JDAM GBU-54; three hundred (300) BLU-
111 500-lb general purpose bombs; one hundred (100) MXU-650
air foil groups (AFG) for Paveway II GBU-12; one hundred
(100) MAU-169 computer control groups (CCG) for Paveway 11
GBU-12; twenty eight (28) Embedded Global Positioning System
(GPS)/Inertial Navigation System (INS) (EGI) security devices
with M-Code; twelve (12) EGI security devices with Selective
Availability Anti-Spoofing Modules (SAASM); ten (10) Lynx AN/
APY-8 Synthetic Aperture Radars (SAR); ten (10) L3 Rio Grande
communications intelligence (COMINT) sensor suites; one
hundred ten (110) AGM-114R2 Hellfire II missiles; and eight
(8) M36E9 Hellfire Captive Air Training Missiles (CATM). The
following non-MDE items will also be included: Honeywell TPE-
331 turboprop engines; Certifiable Ground Control Stations
(CGCS); FMU-139D/B fuze systems; DSU-38 laser illuminated
target detectors for GBU-54; KY-100M narrowband/wideband
terminals; AN/PYQ-10 Simple Key Loaders (SKLs); Keying
Identification Verification (KIV)-77 Mode 5 Identification
Friend or Foe (IFF) cryptographic appliques; Intrusion
Prevention System (IPS)-250X High Assurance Internet Protocol
Encryptor (HAIPE) Type 1 cryptographic communications
security (COMSEC) devices; Cryptographic Core Modernization
(CCM)-700A Type 1 COMSEC chips; AN/DPX-7 IFF transponders;
Link-16 KOR-24A Small Tactical Terminals (STTs); Semi-
Automatic Ground Environment (SAGE) Electronic Surveillance
Measure systems; AE-4500 Electronic Support Measure; Compact
Multi-band Data Link (CMDL); Remotely Operated Video Enhanced
Receiver (ROVER) 6SI compatible systems; Common Munitions
Built-in-Test Reprogramming Equipment (CMBRE) Plus Block II;
Mayflower Multi-Platform Anti-Jam GPS Navigation Antennas
(MAGNA)-I, AS-4841; imaging systems; Electro-Optical/Infrared
(EO/IR) Multi-Spectrum Targeting System (MTS); Active
Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radars (SeaSpray 7500
maritime radars); Due Regard Radar (DRR); Automatic
Information System (AIS) transponders; Rohde & Schwartz Ultra
High Frequency (UHF)/Very High Frequency (VHF) radios;
satellite communications (SATCOM) ground station antennas,
modems, and terminals with Unifi Security Gateway (USG)
encryption; Ku-Band SATCOM GA-ASI Transportable Earth
Stations (GATES); secure SATCOM systems; DSU-33D/B bomb
components; M299 Longbow Hellfire launchers; weapons loading
equipment; spare and repair parts, consumables and
accessories, and repair and return support; weapons
integration; support and test equipment; facilities and
construction support; publications and technical
documentation; personnel training and training equipment;
transportation and airlift support; studies and surveys; 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
$1.96 billion.
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 country that continues
to be an important force for political stability and economic
progress in the Middle East.
The proposed sale will improve Qatar's capability to meet
current and future threats by providing timely intelligence,
surveillance, and reconnaissance, target acquisition,
counter-land, and counter-surface sea capabilities for its
security and defense. This capability is a deterrent to
regional threats and will primarily be used to strengthen its
homeland defense. Qatar 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 contractors will be General Atomics
Aeronautical Systems, located in Poway, CA; Lockheed Martin,
located in Bethesda, MD; RTX Corporation, located in Waltham,
MA; L3Harris, Inc., located in Melbourne, FL; Boeing
Corporation, located in Arlington, VA; and Leonardo SpA,
located in Rome, Italy. 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 Qatar.
There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness
as a result of this proposed sale.
Transmittal No. 25-16
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 MQ-9B Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) is a weapons-
ready aircraft designed for Medium-Altitude Long-Endurance
intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR), target
acquisition, and strike missions. The MQ-9B RPA is not a USAF
program of record but has close ties to, and
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builds upon, the proven success of the MQ-9A Reaper. The MQ-
9B is a highly modular, easily configurable aircraft that
contains the necessary hard points, power, and data
connections to accommodate a variety of payloads and
munitions to meet multiple missions--including counter-land,
counter-sea, and anti-submarine strike operations. The system
is designed to be controlled by two operators within a
Certifiable Ground Control Station (CGCS). The MQ-9B is able
to operate using a direct line-of-sight (LoS) datalink or
beyond line-of-sight (BLoS) through satellite communications
(SATCOM). The MQ-9B system can be deployed from a single site
that supports launch and recovery, mission control, and
maintenance. The system also supports remote-split operations
where launch, recovery, and maintenance occur at a forward
operating base (FOB) and mission control is conducted from
another location or main operating base (MOB).
2. Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAM) consist of a bomb
body paired with a warhead-specific tail kit containing a
Global Positioning System (GPS)/Inertial Navigation System
(INS) guidance capability that converts unguided free-fall
bombs into accurate, adverse weather ``smart'' munitions. The
JDAM weapon can be delivered from modest standoff ranges at
high or low altitudes against a variety of land and surface
targets during the day or night. The JDAM can receive target
coordinates via preplanned mission data from the delivery
aircraft, by onboard aircraft sensors during captive carry,
or from a third-party source via manual or automated entry.
a. The Guided Bomb Unit (GBU)-38 is a 500-lb JDAM,
consisting of a KMU-572 tail kit and Bomb Live Unit (BLU)-111
or MK-82 bomb body.
b. The GBU-54 Laser Joint Direct Attack Munition (LJDAM) is
a 500-lb JDAM which incorporates all the capabilities of the
JDAM guidance tail kit and adds a precision laser guidance
set. The LJDAM gives the weapon system an optional semi-
active laser guidance in addition to the GPS/INS guidance.
This provides the optional capability to strike moving
targets. The GBU-54 consists of a DSU-38 laser guidance set
or a DSU-33D/B proximity sensor and bomb body with
appropriate KMU-5XX tail kit.
3. The Paveway II (PWII) is a maneuverable, free-fall
laser-guided bomb (LGB) that guides to laser energy reflected
off the target. The LGB is delivered like a normal general
purpose (GP) warhead, but the semi-active laser guidance
corrects many of the normal errors inherent in any delivery
system. Laser designation for the LGB can be provided by a
variety of laser target markers or designators. The PWII
consists of a non-warhead-specific MAU-209 or MAU-169
computer control group (CCG) and a warhead-specific air foil
group (AFG) that attaches to the nose and tail of the GP bomb
body.
a. The GBU-12 is a 500-lb GP bomb body fitted with the MAU-
169 CCG and MXU-650 AFG to guide to its laser designated
target.
4. The M-Code capable Embedded Global Positioning System/
Inertial Navigation System (GPS/INS) (EGI), with an embedded
GPS Precise Positioning Service (PPS) Receiver Application
Module-Standard Electronic Module (GRAM-S/M), is a self-
contained navigation system that provides acceleration,
velocity, position, attitude, platform azimuth, magnetic and
true heading, altitude, body angular rates, time tags, and
coordinated universal time (UTC) synchronized time. SAASM or
M-Code enables the GPS receiver access to the encrypted P(Y)
or M-Code signal, providing protection against active
spoofing attacks.
a. Mayflower Multi-Platform Anti-Jam GPS Navigation Antenna
(MAGNA)-I, AS-4841 is a federated, GPS anti-jam solution.
MAGNA-F can provide protected GPS signals to different
receivers simultaneously. It protects critical mission
systems on the platform and provides unwavering position,
navigation, and timing (PNT). It can be used on multiple
military and civilian GPS receivers. It is also compatible
with Selective Availability Anti-Spoofing Modules (SAASM) and
M-Code.
5. The EGI with SAASM--or M-Code receiver when available--
and PPS is a self-contained navigation system that provides
the following: acceleration, velocity, position, attitude,
platform azimuth, magnetic and true heading, altitude, body
angular rates, time tags, and coordinated universal time
(UTC) synchronized time. SAASM or M-Code enables the GPS
receiver access to the encrypted P(Y) or M-Code signal,
providing protection against active spoofing attacks.
6. The AN/APY-8 Lynx Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) and
Ground Moving Target Indicator (GMTI) system provides all-
weather surveillance, tracking, and targeting.
7. The L3 Rio Grande communications intelligence sensor
suite's capabilities meet rigorous mission requirements for
small, manned, and unmanned intelligence, surveillance, and
reconnaissance (ISR) platforms. Rio Grande intercepts,
locates, monitors, and records communications signals using a
common set of software applications. Rio Grande operates on
an open architecture design and supports third-party special
signals applications, real-time audio recording and playback,
and a three-dimensional display of the area of interest.
8. The AGM-114R2 Hellfire II is a missile equipped with a
semi-active laser (SAL) seeker that homes in on the reflected
light of a laser designator. The AGM-1 14R can be launched
from higher altitudes than previous variants because of its
enhanced guidance and navigation capabilities, which include
a height-of-burst (HOB)/proximity sensor. The missile has a
multipurpose warhead and can destroy hard, soft, and enclosed
targets.
a. Captive Air Training Missiles (CATMs) are used to
simulate the AGM-114R2 Hellfire missiles and are carried and
delivered in the same manner as the Hellfire with identical
weight, center of gravity, and overall appearance.
9. The Honeywell TPE-331 is a turboprop engine with power
output ranging from 429 to 1,230 kW.
10. The Certifiable Ground Control Station (CGCS) is
designed to emulate a reconnaissance aircraft cockpit, giving
users extensive means to operate both the aircraft and
sensors. It can be fixed or mobile, with either version
allowing operators to control and monitor the aircraft, as
well as record and exploit downlinked payload data.
11. The FMU-139D/B Joint Programmable Fuze (JPF) is a
multi-delay, multi-arm proximity sensor compatible with
general purpose blast, frag, and hardened-target penetrator
weapons. The JPF settings are cockpit selectable in flight
when used with numerous precision-guided weapons.
12. The KY-100M is a cryptographic-modernized lightweight
terminal for secure voice and data communications. The KY-
100M provides wideband/narrowband half-duplex communication.
Operating in tactical ground, marine, and airborne
applications, the KY-100M enables secure communication with a
broad range of radio and satellite equipment.
13. The AN/PYQ-10 Simple Key Loader (SKL) is a handheld
device used for securely receiving, storing, and transferring
data between compatible cryptographic and communications
equipment.
14. The Keying Identification Verification (KIV)-77 is a
cryptographic applique for Identification Friend or Foe
(IFF). It can be loaded with Mode 5 classified elements.
15. The Semi-Automatic Ground Environment (SAGE) 750
Electronic Surveillance Measures (ESM) System is a United
Kingdom produced digital electronic intelligence (ELINT)
sensor which analyzes the electromagnetic spectrum to map the
source of active emissions. Using highly accurate direction
finding (DF) antennas, SAGE builds target locations and
provides situational awareness, advance warning of threats,
and the ability to cue other sensors.
16. The SNC 4500 Auto Electronic Surveillance Measures
(ESM) System is a digital electronic intelligence (ELINT)
sensor which analyzes the electromagnetic spectrum to map the
source of active emissions. Using highly accurate Direction
Finding (DF) antennas, the SNC 4500 builds target locations
and provides situational awareness, advance warning of
threats, and the ability to cue other sensors.
17. The L3 Harris Compact Multi-band Data Link (CMDL) is a
miniaturized, high-performance, wideband data link operating
in Ku, C, L, or S-band, with both analog and digital
waveforms. It is interoperable with military and commercial
products including Tactical Common Data Link (TCDL)
terminals, the complete line of Remotely Operated Video
Enhanced Receiver (ROVER) systems, and coded orthogonal
frequency division multiplexing (COFDM) receivers.
18. The L3 Harris ROVER 6Si transceiver provides real-time,
full-motion video and other network data for situational
awareness, targeting, battle damage assessment, surveillance,
relay, convoy over-watch operations, and other situations
where eyes-on-target are required. It provides expanded
frequencies and additional processing resources from previous
ROVER versions, allowing increased levels of collaboration
and interoperability with numerous manned and unmanned
airborne platforms.
19. 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/
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 GPS cryptographic keys, and
declassification of munitions memory.
20. The MX-20HD is a gyro-stabilized, multi-spectral,
multi-field-of-view ElectroOptical/Infrared (EO/IR) targeting
system. The system provides surveillance laser illumination
and laser designation through use of an externally mounted
turret sensor unit and internally mounted master control.
Sensor video imagery is displayed in the aircraft real time
and may be recorded for subsequent ground analysis.
21. The Selex Seaspray is an Active Electronically Scanned
Array (AESA) surveillance radar suitable for a range of
capabilities from long range search to small target
detection.
22. Due Regard Radar (DRR) is a collision avoidance air-to-
air radar. DRR is a key component of GA-ASI's overall
airborne Detect and Avoid System (DAAS) architecture for MQ-
9B. By tracking non-cooperative aircraft, DRR enables a
collision avoidance capability onboard the RPA and allows the
pilot to separate the aircraft from other air traffic in
cooperation with air traffic control.
23. The Automatic Identification System (AIS) transponder
provides maritime patrol and search and rescue (SAR) aircraft
with the ability to track and identify AIS-equipped vessels
over a dedicated very high frequency (VHF) data link. AIS is
a key component of any maritime ISR network and offers
maritime authorities with the ability to
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better coordinate air and sea search, rescue, surveillance,
and interdiction operations.
24. The Rohde & Schwartz Ultra High Frequency (UHF)/ VHF
radio is a multi-band, portable, two-way communication radio.
25. The AN/DPX-7 is an IFF transponder used to identify and
track aircraft, ships, and some ground forces to reduce
friendly fire incidents.
26. The C-Band LoS Ground Data Terminals and Ku-Band SATCOM
GA-ASI Transportable Earth Stations (GATES) provide command,
control, and data acquisition for the MQ-9.
27. The M299 launcher provides mechanical and electrical
interface between the Hellfire missile and aircraft.
28. The KOR-24A Small Tactical Terminal (STT) Link-16 is a
command, control communications, and intelligence (C31)
system incorporating high-capacity, jam-resistant, digital
communication links for exchange of near real-time tactical
information, including both data and voice, among air,
ground, and sea elements.
29. The Intrusion Prevention System (IPS)-250X is a low-
size, weight, and power (SWaP) National Security Agency
(NSA)-certified high-speed Internet Protocol (IP) network
encryptor.
30. The highest level of classification of defense
articles, components, and services included in this potential
sale is SECRET.
31. 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.
32. A determination has been made that Qatar 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.
33. All defense articles and services listed in this
transmittal have been authorized for release and export to
Government of Qatar.
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