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[Page S1886]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
ARMS SALES NOTIFICATION
Mr. CORKER. 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 available to the full Senate, I ask unanimous consent to
have printed in the Record the notifications which have been received.
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.
There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in
the Record, as follows:
Defense Security
Cooperation Agency,
Arlington, VA.
Hon. Bob Corker,
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. 17-02,
concerning the Air Force's proposed Letter(s) of Offer and
Acceptance to the Government of the United Kingdom for
defense articles and services estimated to cost $150 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,
J.W. Rixey,
Vice Admiral, USN, Director.
Enclosures.
Transmittal No. 17-02
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: United Kingdom.
(ii) Total Estimated Value:
Major Defense Equipment* $135.0 million.
Other $ 15.0 million.
Total $150.0 million.
(iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or
Services under Consideration for Purchase:
Major Defense Equipment (MDE):
One thousand (1,000) AGM-114-R1/R2 Hellfire II Semi-Active
Laser (SAL) Missiles.
Non-MDE:
Logistics support services and other related program
support.
(iv) Military Department: Air Force (YAI).
(v) Prior Related Cases, if any: UK-D-YAC--$22M--May 2008;
UK-D-YAF--$21M--Mar 2011; UK-D-YAY--$134M--Aug 2013.
(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: March 16, 2017.
*As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control
Act.
POLICY JUSTIFICATION
United Kingdom--Hellfire Missiles
The Government of the United Kingdom (UK) requested a
possible sale of 1,000 AGM-114-RI/R2 Hellfire II Semi-Active
Laser (SAL) Missiles with logistics support services and
other related program support. The estimated cost is $150
million.
This proposed sale directly contributes to the foreign
policy and national security policies of the United States by
enhancing the close air support capability of the UK in
support of NATO and other coalition operations. Commonality
between close air support capabilities greatly increases
interoperability between our two countries' military and
peacekeeping forces and allows for greater burden sharing.
The proposed sale improves the UK's capability to meet
current and future threats by providing close air support to
counter enemy attacks on coalition ground forces in the U.S.
Central Command area of responsibility (AOR) and other areas,
as needed. The UK already has Hellfire missiles in its
inventory and will have no difficulty absorbing these
additional missiles.
The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not
alter the basic military balance in the region.
There is no principal contractor for this sale as the
missiles are coming from U.S. stock.
Implementation of this proposed sale will not require the
assignment of any additional U.S. Government or contractor
representatives to the UK.
There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness
as a result of this proposed sale.
____________________
