[Pages S2735-S2736]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

ARMS SALES NOTIFICATIONS

Mr. CARDIN. 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.
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. Benjamin L. Cardin,
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. 23-61,
concerning the Navy's proposed Letter(s) of Offer and
Acceptance to the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
for defense articles and services estimated to cost $101.1
million. We will issue a news release to notify the public of
this proposed sale upon delivery of this letter to your
office.
Sincerely,
James A. Hursch,
Director.
Enclosures.

Transmittal No. 23-61

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 * $95.7 million.
Other $5.4 million.
Total $101.1 million.
Funding Source: National Funds.
(iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or
Services Under Consideration for Purchase: Foreign Military
Sales (FMS) case SR-P-LDK was below the congressional
notification threshold value at $12.6 million ($9.0 million
in MDE), and included thirty-five (35) Multifunctional
Information Distribution System Joint Tactical Radio Systems
(MIDS JTRS) and twenty-four (24) Multifunctional Information
Distribution System-Low Volume Terminals (MIDS-LVT) Block
Upgrade Two (BU2) retrofit kits. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
has requested the case be amended to additionally include
fifty (50) MIDS-LVT BU2 Terminals and one hundred (100) MIDS-
LVT BU2 retrofit kits. This amendment will push the current
case value, above the MDE notification threshold and thus
notification of the entire case is required.
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has also requested a new FMS
case that includes one hundred ninety-four (194) MIDS JTRS
and thirteen (13) MIDS-LVT BU2 Terminals. This case will also
exceed the MDE notification threshold and therefore also
requires notification.
The above notification requirements are combined as
follows:
Major Defense Equipment (MDE):
Two hundred twenty-nine (229) MIDS JTRS.
Sixty-three (63) MIDS-LVT BU2 Terminals.
One hundred twenty-four (124) MIDS-LVT BU2 Retrofit Kits.
Non-MDE: Also included are TacNet Tactical Radios; Low
Volume Terminal Cryptographic Modules; other communications

[[Page S2736]]

equipment; support equipment; engineering and technical
support and assistance; training; and other related elements
of logistics and program support.
(iv) Military Department: Navy (SR-P-LDK, SR-P-LHM).
(v) Prior Related Cases, if any: None.
(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: April 10, 2024.
* as defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control
Act.

POLICY JUSTIFICATION

Kingdom of Saudi Arabia--Multifunctional Information Distribution
Systems

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has requested to buy fifty (50)
Multifunctional Information Distribution System-Low Volume
Terminal (MIDS-LVT) Block Upgrade 2 (BU2) Terminals and one
hundred (100) additional MIDS-LVT BU2 Retrofit Kits that will
be added to a previously implemented case whose value was
under the congressional notification threshold. The original
Foreign Military Sales (FMS) case, valued at $12.6 million,
included thirty-five (35) Multifunctional Information
Distribution System Joint Tactical Radio System (MIDS JTRS)
and twenty-four (24) MIDS-LVT BU2 Retrofit Kits. The Kingdom
of Saudi Arabia has also requested a new FMS case that
includes one hundred ninety-four (194) MIDS JTRS and thirteen
(13) MIDS-LVT BU2 Terminals. This notification is for a
combined total of two hundred twenty-nine (229) MIDS JTRS;
sixty-three (63) MIDS-LVT BU2 Terminals; and one hundred
twenty-four (124) MIDS-LVT BU2 Retrofit Kits. Also included
are TacNet Tactical Radios; Low Volume Terminal Cryptographic
Modules; other communications equipment; support equipment;
engineering and technical support and assistance; training;
and other related elements of logistics and program support.
The estimated total cost is $101.1 million.
This proposed sale will support the foreign policy goals
and national security objectives of the United States by
improving the security of a partner country that is a force
for political stability and economic progress in the Gulf
Region.
The proposed sale will improve the Kingdom of Saudi
Arabia's surveillance capability to counter current and
future regional threats, strengthen its homeland defense, and
improve interoperability with systems operated by U.S. forces
and other Gulf Region partners. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
will have no difficulty absorbing these systems 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 has not been determined as there
will be a competitive contractual award process after case
implementation, There are no known offset agreements proposed
in connection with this potential sale.
Implementation of this sale will not require the assignment
of any 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. 23-61

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 Multifunctional Information Distribution System-Low
Volume Terminals (MIDS-LVT) is used by the U.S. Navy, Marine
Corps, and Air Force, an well as foreign partners, and allows
air defense units to engage incoming missiles or manned and
unmanned airborne platforms in day, night, and adverse
weather conditions. The MIDS-LVT utilizes Link-16, an
encrypted frequency hopping pattern to transmit tactical
situational awareness data. Link-16 is the standard Tactical
Data Link (TDL) used by both the United States and foreign
nations to provide real-time operational awareness for both
individual units as well as overall command and control
components.
2. The Multifunctional Information Distribution System
Joint Tactical Radio System (MIDS JTRS) provides an advanced
Link-16 command, control, communications, and intelligence
(C3I) system incorporating high-capacity and jam-resistant
digital communications links for exchange of near real-time
tactical information, including both data and voice, among
air, ground, and sea elements. MIDS JTRS is a multi-channel,
software-defined variant of the MIDS-LVT.
3. The highest level of classification of defense articles,
components, and services included in this potential sale is
SECRET.
4. If a technologically advanced adversary were to obtain
knowledge of the hardware and software elements, the
information could be used to develop countermeasures or
equivalent systems which might reduce system effectiveness or
be used in the development of a system with similar or
advanced capabilities.
5. 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.
6. All defense articles and services listed in this
transmittal are authorized for release and export to the
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

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