ARMS SALES NOTIFICATION

On 2026-07-22, 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 120 (Wednesday, July 22, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 120 (Wednesday, July 22, 2026)] [Senate] [Pages S4224-S4225] 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 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 26-76. Pursuant to the reporting requirements of Section 36(b)(1) of the Arms Export Control Act (AECA), as amended, we are forwarding Transmittal No. 26-76 concerning the Department of the Army's proposed Letter(s) of Offer and Acceptance to the Government of Greece for defense articles and services estimated to cost $80.1 million. 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. RSAT 26-76 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 Greece. (ii) Total Estimated Value: Major Defense Equipment* $32.1 million. Other $48 million. Total $80.1 million. Funding Source: Foreign Military Financing and National Funds. (iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or Services under Consideration for Purchase: Major Defense Equipment (MDE): Three hundred fifty (350) Switchblade 300 Block 20 (SB300B20) Lethal Miniature Aerial Missile System (LMAMS). Thirty-five (35) SB300B20 LMAMS Fire Control Systems (FCS). Non-MDE: The following non-MDE items will also be included: Switchblade 600 (SB600) Selective Availability Anti-Spoofing Module Global Positioning System LMAMS; SB600 FCS; SB300B20 tactical battery chargers; smart battery chargers; spares packages; training services; field service representative support; U.S. Government and contractor engineering, technical, and logistics support services; and other related elements of logistics and program support. (iv) Military Department: Army (GR-B-UBA). (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: July 16, 2026. * As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control Act. POLICY JUSTIFICATION Greece--Switchblade 300 Block 20 Lethal Miniature Aerial Missile System The Government of Greece has requested to buy three hundred fifty (350) Switchblade 300 Block 20 (SB300B20) Lethal Miniature Aerial Missile System (LMAMS) and thirty-five (35) SB300B20 LMAMS Fire Control Systems (FCS). The following non- major defense equipment items will also be included: Switchblade 600 (SB600) Selective Availability Anti-Spoofing Module Global Positioning System LMAMS; SB600 FCS; SB300B20 tactical battery chargers; SB600 [[Page S4225]] smart battery chargers; spares packages; training services; field service representative support; 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 $80.1 million. This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security of the United States by improving the security of a NATO Ally that continues to be a force for political and economic stability in Europe. The proposed sale will improve Greece's capability to deter current and future threats, support coalition operations, and increase interoperability with the United States. Greece 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 Aero Vironment Inc., located in Simi Valley, CA. 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 Greece. There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a result of this proposed sale. Transmittal No. 26-76 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 Switchblade 300 Block 20 (SB300B20) Lethal Miniature Aerial Missile System (LMAMS) is loitering precision guided munitions intended to allow small unit engagement of enemy combatants without direct enemy fire. The SB300B20 LMAMS uses a common Fire Control System (FCS) and core capabilities, including Electro-Optical/Infrared (EO/IR) imagery for day and night operations, automated mission planning, and a ``Forward Pass'' feature to extend operational range. The SB300B20 is a lightweight system with beyond-visual-range capability, optimized for anti-personnel missions. The SB300B20 LMAMS is anti-personnel, surface-to-surface launched missile that utilizes proprietary pixel lock technology and a fragmenting warhead to engage targets. The system is controlled via a secure Digital Data Link (DDL), which provides the connection between the operator's FCS and the air vehicle for both command inputs and near real-time video transmission. 2. The Switchblade 600 (SB600) Selective Availability Anti- Spoofing Module Global Positioning System (GPS) LMAMS is loitering precision guided munitions intended to allow small unit engagement of enemy combatants without direct enemy fire. The SB600 uses a common FCS and core capabilities, including EO/IR imagery for day and night operations, automated mission planning, and a ``Forward Pass'' feature to extend operational range. The larger SB600 provides extended capabilities, featuring a high-performance anti-armor warhead and a significantly longer flight endurance of over sixty minutes, enabling it to engage hardened targets and conduct prolonged reconnaissance. The SB600 is an antitank, surface- to-surface launched missile that utilizes the same pixel lock technology and a shaped charge warhead to engage hardened targets. The system is controlled via a secure DDL, which provides the connection between the operator's FCS and the air vehicle for both command inputs and near real-time video transmission. and all its support equipment to facilitate proper operation. This software is hosted on the Flight Control Unit (FCU) and is where Built-in Tests (BIT), payload arming/disarming, and waypoints are initiated. Aerial Reconfigurable Embedded System (ARES) is also where a range of non-flight functions are conducted; to include preflight checks, periodic maintenance checks, loading of Operational Flight Program (OFP) data, and loading of GPS cryptographic keys. 3. The SB300B20 features an Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) 256-bit encryption, securing both video and data transmission. As a key security feature, a unique bind code links the ground controller to its specific air vehicle, preventing unauthorized systems from taking control. The ARES is flight software used across the Switchblade family of systems, it interfaces with the SB300B20. 4. The SB600 features an AES 256-bit encryption, securing both video and data transmission. As a key security feature, a unique bind code links the ground controller to its specific air vehicle, preventing unauthorized systems from taking control. The ARES is flight software used across the Switchblade family of systems, it interfaces with the SB600 and all its support equipment to facilitate proper operation. This software is hosted on the FCU and is where BIT, payload arming/disarming, and waypoints are initiated. Ares is also where a range of nonflight functions are conducted; including preflight checks, periodic maintenance checks, loading of OFP data, and loading of GPS cryptographic keys. 5. The SB300B20 is controlled by the FCU which hosts the ARES flight software. The warhead and other capabilities of the SB300B20 are also controlled by the FCU. Specific to the warhead, there is an Electronic Safe and Arm Device (ESAD) that sets the sensing environment and logic to ensure the warhead only goes off under certain conditions. 6. The SB600 is controlled by the FCU which hosts the ARES flight software. The warhead and other capabilities of the SB300B20 are also controlled by the FCU. Specific to the warhead, there is an ESAD that sets the sensing environment and logic to ensure the warhead only goes off under certain conditions. 7. The highest level of classification of defense articles, components, and services included in this