ARMS SALES NOTIFICATION

On 2026-09-15, Senator James E. Risch (R-ID) delivered a floor speech titled "ARMS SALES NOTIFICATION" in the Senate.

ARMS SALES NOTIFICATION

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 145 (Tuesday, September 15, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 145 (Tuesday, September 15, 2026)] [Senate] [Pages S4721-S4723] 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 [[Page S4722]] 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 26-80. Pursuant to the reporting requirements of Section 36(b)(1) of the Arms Export Control Act (AECA), as amended, we are forwarding Transmittal No. 26-80 concerning the Air Force's proposed Letter(s) of Offer and Acceptance to the Government of Qatar for defense articles and services estimated to cost $4.5 billion. 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, Kaitlyn Wolfe, Senior Bureau Official, Bureau of Legislative Affairs. Transmittal No. 26-80 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 Qatar. (ii) Total Estimated Value: Major Defense Equipment \*\ $2.18 billion. Other $2.32 billion. Total $4.50 billion. Funding Source: National Funds. (iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or Services under Consideration for Purchase: Major Defense Equipment (MDE): Up to four (4) KC-46A aircraft. Eight (8) PW4062 turbofan engines (4 installed, 4 spares). Ten (10) AN/ALR-69A radar warning receivers (4 installed, 6 spares). Fifteen (15) Guardian Laser Transmitter Assemblies for Large Aircraft Infrared Countermeasures (LAIRCM) systems (12 installed, 3 spares). Eight (8) LAIRCM system processor replacements (4 installed, 4 spares). Non-MDE: The following non-MDE items will also be included: missile warning sensors; cartridge actuated devices and propellent actuated devices; control interface units; user data module cards; electronic warfare database support; KIV- 77 crypto module; KY-100M crypto terminals; AN/PYQ-10 simple key loaders; AN/APX-119 Identification Friend or Foe transponder; precision navigation; Computer Program Identification Numbers; integration and test support and equipment; aircraft components, parts, and accessories; support and support equipment; spare parts, consumables and accessories, and repair and return support; training aids, devices, and spare parts; major and minor modifications, and maintenance support; instruments and lab equipment; classified and unclassified software delivery and support; unclassified publications and technical documentation; maps, publications, and technical documentation; personnel training and training equipment; clothing, textiles, and individual equipment; trucks and transportation vehicles; facilities and construction support; jet fuel; transportation and airlift support; warranties; site surveys; U.S. Government and contractor engineering; technical and logistics support services; and other related elements of logistics and program support. (iv) Implementing Agency: Air Force QA-D-SAD. (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: August 18, 2026. \*\ As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control Act. POLICY JUSTIFICATION Qatar--KC-46A Aerial Refueling Aircraft The Government of Qatar has requested to buy up to four (4) KC-46A aircraft; eight (8) PW4062 turbofan engines (4 installed, 4 spares); ten (10) AN/ALR-69A radar warning receivers (4 installed) 6 spares); fifteen (15) Guardian Laser Transmitter Assemblies (GTLA) for Large Aircraft Infrared Countermeasure (LAIRCM) systems (12 installed, 3 spares); and eight (8) LAIRCM system processor replacements. The following non-major defense equipment items will also be included: missile warning sensors; cartridge actuated devices and propellent actuated devices; control interface units; user data module cards; electronic warfare database support; KIV-77 crypto module; KY-100M crypto terminals; AN/PYQ-10 simple key loaders; AN/APX-119 Identification Friend or Foe transponder; precision navigation; Computer Program Identification Numbers; integration and test support and equipment; aircraft components, parts, and accessories; support and support equipment; spare parts, consumables and accessories, and repair and return support; training aids, devices, and spare parts; major and minor modifications and maintenance support; instruments and lab equipment; classified and unclassified software delivery and support; unclassified publications and technical documentation; maps, publications, and technical documentation; personnel training and training equipment; clothing, textiles, and individual equipment; trucks and transportation vehicles; facilities and construction support; jet fuel; transportation and airlift support; warranties; site surveys; 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 $4.50 billion. This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States by helping to improve the security of a strategic regional partner that has been and continues to be an important force for political stability and economic progress in the Middle East. The proposed sale will increase Qatar's capability to meet current and future threats by enhancing its defense capabilities and interoperability with U.S. and allied forces and reinforcing Qatar's strategic role in regional security. Qatar 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 contractors will be The Boeing Corporation, located in Arlington, VA; Pratt & Whitney Military Engines, located in East Hartford, CT; RTX Corporation, located in Arlington, VA; and Northrop Grumman Corporation, located in Rolling Meadows, IL. 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 Qatar. There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a result of this proposed sale. Transmittal No. 26-80 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 KC-46A is a military aerial refueling and strategic military transport aircraft. The KC-46A can refuel most fixed-wing, receiver-capable aircraft. It is equipped with a refueling boom driven by a fly-by-wire control system and is capable of fuel offload rates required for large aircraft. Its hose and drogue system adds additional mission capability that is independently operable from the refueling boom system. The KC-46A can accommodate a mixed load of passengers, aeromedical evacuation, and cargo capabilities. Two high-bypass turbofans power the KC-46A to take off at gross weights of up to 415,000 pounds. Depending on the fuel storage configuration, the aircraft can carry a palletized load of up to 65,000 pounds of cargo. The KC-46A is also equipped with self-protection, defensive, and communication features making it more survivable in a contested environment. 2. The AN/AAQ-24(V)N Large Aircraft Infrared Countermeasure (LAIRCM) system is a self-contained, directed-energy countermeasures system designed to protect aircraft from infrared-guided surface-to-air missiles. The LAIRCM system features digital technology micro-miniature solid-state electronics. The system operates in all conditions, detecting incoming missiles and jamming infrared-seeker equipped missiles with aimed bursts of laser energy. The LAIRCM system consists of multiple infrared missile warning sensors, the Guardian Laser Transmitter Assembly (GLTA) with Selective Availability Anti-Spoofing Module capability, a LAIRCM System Processor Replacement (LSPR), a Control Interface Unit Replacement (CIUR), and a classified memory card User Data Module (UDM). a. LAIRCM's infrared missile warning sensors detect and declare threat missiles. The sensors are mounted on the aircraft exterior to provide omni-directional protection. The sensors detect the rocket plume of missiles and send appropriate data signals to the LSPR for processing. b. The GLTA is a laser transmitter point