Arms Sales Notification
Floor Speech
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Mr. CARDIN. 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.
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.
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. 24-32, concerning the Air Force's proposed Letter(s) of Offer and Acceptance to the Government of Canada for defense services estimated to cost $138 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. 24-32 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 Canada.
(ii) Total Estimated Value:
Major Defense Equipment * $0.
Other $138 million.
Total $138 million.
(iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or Services under Consideration for Purchase:
Major Defense Equipment (MDE):
None.
Non-MDE: Telecommunications services providing Tactical Narrowband Satellite Communications (SATCOM) access to Canadian Armed Forces users over the Mobile User Objective System (MUOS) service; communication technical assistance to provide operational support, lifecycle management support, and engineering technical assistance and services; personnel training and training equipment; U.S. Government and contractor engineering; technical and logistics support services; and other related elements of logistics and program support.
(iv) Military Department: Air Force (CN-D-DAV).
(v) Prior Related Cases, if any: CN-P-FEU, CN-P-FFN.
(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: March 7, 2024.
* As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control Act. POLICY JUSTIFICATION Canada--Mobile User Objective System Access
The Government of Canada has requested to buy telecommunications services providing Tactical Narrowband Satellite Communications (SATCOM) access to Canadian armed forces users over the Mobile User Objective System (MUOS) service; communication technical assistance to provide operational support, lifecycle management support, and engineering technical assistance and services; personnel training and training equipment; 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 $138 million.
This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States by helping to improve the military capability of Canada, a NATO Ally that is an important force for ensuring political stability and economic progress and a contributor to military, peacekeeping, and humanitarian operations around the world.
The proposed sale will improve Canada's ability to meet current and future threats by providing ultra-high frequency SATCOM access. MUOS access will increase Canada's capacity to conduct operations in concert with U.S. forces for the defense of North America. Enhanced functionality in northern latitudes is integral to meeting Canada's North American Aerospace Defense Command missions and makes MUOS particularly beneficial to continental air defense collaboration. Canada will have no difficulty absorbing these 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 General Dynamics, Reston, VA. 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 Canada.
There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a result of this proposed sale.
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