[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 145 (Tuesday, September 15, 2026)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4729-S4730]
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 26-68.
Pursuant to the reporting requirements of Section 36(b)(1)
of the Arms Export Control Act (AECA), as amended, we are
forwarding Transmittal No. 26-68 concerning the Army's
proposed Letter(s) of Offer and Acceptance to the Government
of Saudi Arabia for defense articles and services estimated
to cost $750 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,
Katherine Bowles,
Assistant Secretary,
Bureau of Legislative Affairs.
transmittal no. 26-68
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* $300 million.
Other $450 million.
Total $750 million.
Funding Source: National Funds.
(iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or
Services under Consideration for Purchase:
Major Defense Equipment (MDE): Sixty (60) AGT-1500 tank
engines.
Non-MDE: The following non-MDE items will also be included:
AGT-1500 containers; spare parts, consumables, and
accessories; contractor logistics support; U.S. Government
and contractor engineering, technical, and logistics support
services; and other related elements of logistics and program
support.
[[Page S4730]]
(iv) Military Department: Army (SR-B-VEM).
(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: September 1,
2026.
* As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export
Control Act.
POLICY JUSTIFICATION
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia--AGT-1500 Engines
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has requested to buy sixty (60)
AGT-1500 tank engines. The following non-major defense
equipment items will also be included: AGT-1500 containers;
spare parts, consumables, and accessories; contractor
logistics support; 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 $750 million.
This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and
national security objectives of the United States by
improving the security of a partner country that is a force
for political stability and econonric progress in the Gulf
Region.
The proposed sale will improve Saudi Arabia's capability to
meet current and future threats by bolstering its readiness,
its ability to support operational requirements, and
contributing to capabilities necessary to achieve improved
interoperability and execution of bilateral contingency
plans. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia 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 Honeywell, located in
Anniston Army Depot, AL. 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 Saudi Arabia.
There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness
as a result of this proposed sale.
Transmittal No. 26-68
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. AGT-1500 gas turbine propulsion system: The use of the
AGT-1500 gas turbine propulsion system in the M1A1 is a
unique application of armored vehicle power pack technology.
The hardware is composed of the AGT-1500 engine and
transmission and is not classified. Manufacturing processes
associated with the production of turbine blades,
recuperator, bearings and shafts, and hydrostatic pump and
motor are proprietary and therefore sensitive in nature.
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 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.
4. A determination has been made that Saudi Arabia can
provide substantially the same degree of protection for the
sensitive technology being released as the U.S. Government.
This proposed 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
the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
____________________