[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 145 (Tuesday, September 15, 2026)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4719-S4720]
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:
U.S. Department of State,
Washington, DC.
CONGRESSIONAL NOTIFICATION TRANSMITTAL LETTER
Please find enclosed the following notification from the
Department of State.
Department Notification Number: RSAT 26-53.
Pursuant to the reporting requirements of Section 36(b)(1)
of the Arms Export Control Act (AECA), as amended, we are
forwarding Transmittal No. 26-53 concerning the Army's
proposed Letter(s) of Offer and Acceptance to the Government
of Kuwait for defense articles and services estimated to cost
$542 million. We will issue a news release to notify the
public of this proposed sale upon delivery of this letter to
your office.
Recipients:
Speaker of the House of Representatives
House Committee on Foreign Affairs
Senate Committee on Foreign Relations
Sincerely,
Kaitlyn Wolfe,
Senior Bureau Official,
Bureau of Legislative Affairs.
[[Page S4720]]
Transmittal No. 26-CA
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 Kuwait.
(ii) Total Estimated Value:
Major Defense Equipment \*\ $0.
Other $542 million.
Total $542 million.
Funding Source: National Funds.
(iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or
Services under Consideration for Purchase: The Government of
Kuwait has requested to buy planning, design, contracting,
and construction of facilities that are required for Kuwait
Ministry of Defense to execute the Caracal Alert mission at
Ali Al Salem Air Base, Kuwait Naval Base, and other ancillary
and affiliated locations. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
shall provide all engineering studies, designs, construction,
and construction management services necessary to provide
fully functioning facilities.
Major Defense Equipment (MDE): None.
Non-MDE: The following non-MDE items will be included:
design and construction of covered helicopter parking; hangar
storage facilities; maintenance hangars;ammunition
warehouses; administrative buildings; air traffic control
tower; helipads; forward arming and refueling points; runway;
taxiway; perimeter security fencing; entry control points;
roads including pavements, infrastructure connections to
existing pavement, utilities, demolition, and site
preparation necessary for phasing of work and furnishings;
fixtures; and equipment necessary for base operations; life
cycle design, construction, and project management;
engineering services; technical support; facility and
infrastructure assessments; surveys; planning; programming;
design; acquisition; contract administration; construction
management; technical services; architect-engineer services
for new construction; studies; investigations; professional
surveying and mapping; landscaping design and sustainment
services; evaluations and assessments; consultations; program
management; development of plans and specifications; value
engineering; construction phase services; soils engineering
drawing reviews; geotechnical surveys; preparation of
operations and maintenance manuals and other related
services; facility and infrastructure sustainment (including
maintenance and repair services and operations and
maintenance services); training; other support services as
requested by Kuwait; and other related elements of logistics
and program support.
(iv) Military Department: Army (KU-B-HBV).
(v) Prior Related Cases, if any: KU-B-HBB.
(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: July 27, 2026.
\*\ As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control
Act.
POLICY JUSTIFICATION
Kuwait--Design and Construction of Caracal Helicopter Facilities
The Government of Kuwait has requested to buy planning,
design, contracting, and construction of facilities that are
required for Kuwait Ministry of Defense to execute the
Caracal Alert mission at Ali Al Salem Air Base, Kuwait Naval
Base) and other ancillary and affiliated locations. The U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers shall provide all engineering
studies, designs, construction, and construction management
services necessary to provide fully functioning facilities.
The following non-MDE items will be included: design and
construction of covered helicopter parking; hangar storage
facilities; maintenance hangars; ammunition warehouses;
administrative buildings; air traffic control tower;
helipads; forward arming and refueling points; runway;
taxiway; perimeter security fencing; entry control points;
roads including pavements, infrastructure connections to
existing pavement, utilities, demolition, and site
preparation necessary for phasing of work and furnishings;
fixtures; and equipment necessary for base operations; life
cycle design, construction, and project management;
engineering services; technical support; facility and
infrastructure assessments; surveys; planning; programming;
design; acquisition; contract administration; construction
management; technical services; architect-engineer services
for new construction; studies; investigations; professional
surveying and mapping; landscaping design and sustainment
services; evaluations and assessments; consultations; program
management; development of plans and specifications; value
engineering; construction phase services; soils engineering
drawing reviews; geotechnical surveys; preparation of
operations and maintenance manuals and other related
services; facility and infrastructure sustainment (including
maintenance and repair services and operations and
maintenance services); training; other support services as
requested by Kuwait; and other related elements of logistics
and program support. The estimated total cost is $542
million.
This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and
national security objectives of the United States by
improving the security of a major non-NATO ally that has been
an important force for political stability and economic
progress in the Middle East.
The proposed sale will improve Kuwait's capability to meet
current and future threats by supporting its efforts to
operate and maintain technologically capable Caracal
aircraft. Kuwait 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.
No principal contractor(s) has been identified for this
sale at this time. The principal contractor(s) will be
determined from approved vendors, likely by competitive
acquisitions. The host nation can limit competition but has
not requested to do so at this time. 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 often (10) additional U.S. Government or
contractor representatives to Kuwait for a duration of up to
twelve (12) years to provide construction management and
oversight. It may be possible to utilize locally available
labor to provide some oversight services in lieu of the
assignment of U.S. personnel.
There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness
as a result of this proposed sale.
____________________