[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 70 (Monday, April 28, 2025)]
[Senate]
[Page S2603]
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. 25-20,
concerning the Navy's proposed Letter(s) of Offer and
Acceptance to the Government of the Philippines for defense
services estimated to cost $120 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. 25-20
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 the Philippines.
(ii) Total Estimated Value:
Major Defense Equipment* $0.
Other $120 million.
Total $120 million.
Funding Source: Foreign Military Financing.
(iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or
Services under Consideration for Purchase:
Major Defense Equipment (MDE): None.
Non-Major Defense Equipment: TH-73A training helicopters;
aircraft simulator; spare engines; pack up kits; fuel tanks;
aircraft hoists and lifts; commercial avionics; commercial
flight management systems; commercial Global Positioning
Systems; shipping containers; support and test equipment;
consumables and accessories; integration and test support;
repair and return support; spare and repair parts;
unclassified software delivery and support; unclassified
publications and technical documentation; personnel training
and commercial training equipment; U.S. Government and
contractor engineering, technical, logistics, and
transportation support services, including in-country
representative support; studies and surveys; and other
related elements of logistics and program support.
(iv) Military Department: Navy (PI-P-SDJ).
(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: None.
(viii) Date Report Delivered to Congress: April 15, 2025.
*As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control
Act.
POLICY JUSTIFICATION
Philippines--TH-73A Training Helicopters and Support
The Government of the Philippines has requested to buy the
following defense articles and services: TH-73A training
helicopters; aircraft simulator; spare engines; pack up kits;
fuel tanks; aircraft hoists and lifts; commercial avionics;
commercial flight management systems; commercial Global
Positioning Systems; shipping containers; support and test
equipment; consumables and accessories; integration and test
support; repair and return support; spare and repair parts;
unclassified software delivery and support; unclassified
publications and technical documentation; personnel training
and commercial training equipment; U.S. Government and
contractor engineering, technical, logistics, and
transportation support services, including incountry
representative support; studies and surveys; and other
related elements of logistics and program support. The
estimated total cost is $120 million.
This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and
national security of the United States by helping to improve
the security of a strategic partner that continues to be an
important force for political stability, peace, and economic
progress in Southeast Asia.
The proposed sale will improve the Philippines' capability
to meet current and future threats by providing an aircraft
platform that will serve as the primary method of improving
pilot training and skills, thus helping to ensure the
development of a proficient rotary wing aviator corps. The
Philippines 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 Agusta Westland
Philadelphia Corporation (Leonardo), located in Philadelphia,
PA. 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 four additional U.S. Government and up to
four U.S. contractor representatives to the Philippines for a
duration of up to three years to support helicopter
introduction, familiarization, fielding, and training.
There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness
as a result of this proposed sale.
____________________