Arms Sales Notification
Floor Speech
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Mr. RISCH. Madam 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.
If the cover letter references a classified annex, then such annex is available to all Senators in the office of the Foreign Relations Committee, room SD-423.
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)(l) of the Arms Export Control Act, as amended, we are forwarding herewith Transmittal No. 20-13 concerning the Air Force's proposed Letter(s) of Offer and Acceptance to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for defense articles and services estimated to cost $290 million. After this letter is delivered to your office, we plan to issue a news release to notify the public of this proposed sale. Sincerely, Heidi H. Grant, Director.
Enclosures. transmittal no. 20-13 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 * $250 million.
Other $40 million.
Total $290 million.
(iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or Services under Consideration for Purchase:
Major Defense Equipment (MDE):
Three thousand (3,000) GBU-39/B Small Diameter Bomb I (SDB I).
Non-MDE: Also included are containers; weapon support and support equipment; spare and repair parts; U.S. Government and contractor engineering, technical and logistical support services; and other related elements of logistical and program support.
(iv) Military Department: Air Force (SR-D-YAE).
(v) Prior Related Cases, if any: SR-D-YBD.
(vi) Sales Commission, Fee, etc., Paid, Offered or Agreed to be Paid: None.
(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: December 28, 2020.
*As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control Act. POLICY JUSTIFICATION
Saudi Arabia-GBU-39 Small Diameter Bomb I (SDB I) Munitions
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has requested to buy three thousand (3,000) GBU-39 SDB I munitions. Also included are containers; weapon support and support equipment; spare and repair parts; U.S. Government and contractor engineering, technical and logistical support services; and other related elements of logistical and program support. The total estimated program cost will be $290 million.
This proposed sale will support U.S. foreign policy and national security objectives by helping to improve the security of a friendly country that continues to be an important force for political stability and economic growth in the Middle East.
The proposed sale will improve Saudi Arabia's capability to meet current and future threats by increasing its stocks of long-range, precision air-to-ground munitions. The size and accuracy of the SDB I allows for an effective munition with less collateral damage. The potential sale will further strengthen the interoperability between the United States and Saudi Arabia. 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 Boeing, St. Louis, MO. There are no known offset agreements in connection with this potential sale; however the purchaser typically requests offsets. 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 the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a result of this proposed sale. Transmittal No. 20-13 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 GBU-39/B Small Diameter Bomb Increment I (SDB I) is a 250-pound class weapon designed as a small, all weather, autonomous, conventional, air-to-ground, precision glide weapon able to strike fixed and stationary re-locatable targets from standoff range. The SDB I weapon system consists of the weapons, the BRU-6l/A (4-place pneumatic carriage system), shipping and handling containers for a single weapon and the BRU-61/A either empty or loaded, and weapon planning module. It has integrated diamond-back type wings that deploy after release, which increases the glide time and therefore maximum range. The SDB I Anti-Jam Global Positioning System aided Inertial Navigation System (AJGPS/INS) provides guidance to the coordinates of a stationary target. The payload/warhead is a very effective multipurpose penetrating and blast fragmentation warhead couples with a cockpit selectable-electronic fuze. Its size and accuracy allow for a effective munition with less collateral damage. A proximity sensor provides height of burst capability.
2. The highest lever of classification of information 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 weapon 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 are authorized for release and export to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. ____ Defense Security Cooperation Agency, Arlington, VA. 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. 20-65 concerning the Air Force's proposed Letter(s) of Offer and Acceptance to the Government of Egypt for defense articles and services estimated to cost $65.6 million. After this Letter is delivered to your office, we plan to issue a news release to notify the public of this proposed sale. Sincerely, Heidi H. Grant, Director.
Enclosures. Transmittal No. 20-65 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 Egypt.
(ii) Total Estimated Value:
Major Defense Equipment * $56.8 million.
Other $8.8 million.
Total $65.6 million.
(iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or Services under Consideration for Purchase:
Major Defense Equipment (MDE):
Twenty (20) AN/AAQ-33 Sniper Advanced Targeting Pods (ATPs).
Non-MDE: Also included are pylons; shipping containers; spare and repair/return parts; ground handling equipment; publications and technical documentation; software and software support; personnel training; U.S. Government and contractor engineering, technical, and logistical support services; and other related elements of program and logistical support.
(iv) Military Department: Air Force (EG-D-QFP).
(v) Prior Related Cases, if any: EG-D-SAB.
(vi) Sales Commission, Fee, etc., Paid, Offered, or Agreed to be Paid: None.
(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: December 28, 2020.
* As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control Act. POLICY JUSTIFICATION Egypt--Sniper Advanced Targeting Pods (ATPs)
The Government of Egypt has requested to buy twenty (20) AN/AAQ-33 Sniper ATPs. Also included are pylons; shipping containers; spare and repair/return parts; ground handling equipment; publications and technical documentation; software and software support; personnel training; U.S. Government and contractor engineering, technical, and logistical support services; and other related elements of program and logistical support. The estimated total program costs is $65.6 million.
This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security of the United States by helping to improve the security of a Major Non-NATO Ally country that continues to be an important strategic partner in the Middle East.
The proposed sale will improve Egypt's capability and effectiveness to meet current and future threats by providing additional precision targeting capability to conduct border security and counterterrorism operations. The added precision strike capability will better enable Egypt to conduct operations while minimizing collateral damage. Egypt will have no difficultly absorbing the additional 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 Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company in Fort Worth, TX. There are no known offset agreements proposed in connection with this potential sale.
Implementation of this proposed sale will not require the assignment of any additional U.S. Government or contractor representatives to Egypt.
There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a result of this proposed sale. TRANSMITTAL NO. 20-65 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 AN/AAQ-33 SNIPER Pod is a multi-sensor, elector- optical targeting pod incorporating infrared, low-light television camera, laser range finder/target designator, and laser spot tracker. It is used to provide navigation and targeting for military aircraft in adverse weather and using precision-guided weapons such as laser-guided bombs. It also provides positive target identification, autonomous tracking, coordinate generation, and precise weapons guidance from extended standoff ranges. It offers much greater target resolution and imagery accuracy than previous systems.
2. The highest level of classification of information 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 weapon system effectiveness or be used in the development of a system with similar or advanced capabilities.
4. A determination has been made that Government of Egypt 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 the Government of Egypt.
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