ARMS SALES NOTIFICATION

On 2026-09-17, 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 147 (Thursday, September 17, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 147 (Thursday, September 17, 2026)] [Senate] [Page S4792] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] ARMS SALES NOTIFICATION Mr. RISCH. 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: 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 26-93. Pursuant to the reporting requirements of Section 36(b)(1) of the Arms Export Control Act (AECA), as amended, we are forwarding Transmittal No. 26-93 concerning the Navy's proposed Letter(s) of Offer and Acceptance to the Government of Spain for defense articles and services estimated to cost $75 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, Katherine Bowles, Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Legislative Affairs. Transmittal No. 26-93 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 Spain. (ii) Total Estimated Value: Major Defense Equipment * $27 million. Other $48 million. Total $75 million. (iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or Services under Consideration for Purchase: Major Defense Equipment (MDE): Seven (7) Sonar, Mine Hunting, AN/SQQ-32(V)3+ upgrade kits. Non-MDE: The following non-MDE items will also be included: towed body parts; support equipment; spare parts, consumables, and accessories; unclassified operation and maintenance software; unclassified publications, technical documentation; and studies and surveys; U.S. government and contractor engineering, technical, and logistics support services; and other related elements of logistics and program support. (iv) Military Department: Navy (SP-P-LIM). (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: September 16, 2026. * As defined in Section 47 (6) of the Arms Export Control Act. POLICY JUSTIFICATION Spain--Sonar Upgrade Kits The Government of Spain has requested to buy seven (7) Sonar, Mine Hunting, AN/SQQ-32(V)3+ upgrade kits. The following non-MDE items will also be included: towed body parts; support equipment; spare parts, consumables, and accessories; unclassified operation and maintenance software; unclassified publications, technical documentation; and studies and 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 $75 million. This proposed sale will support the foreign policy goals and national security objectives of the United States by improving the security of a NATO ally that is a force for political stability and economic progress in Europe. The proposed sale will improve Spain's capability to meet current and future threats by providing an advanced and reliable sonar system, enhancing its ability to detect, classify, and neutralize underwater threats. This modernization prevents a capability gap in Spain's Mine Countermeasure forces and ensures continued contribution to NATO maritime security operations. Spain 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. There is no principal contractor in connection with this sale. The articles and support will be provided by the Naval Surface Warfare Center, located in Panama City, FL. At this time, the U.S. Government is not aware of any offset agreement 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 Spain. There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a result of this proposed sale. Transmittal No. 26-93 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 AN/SQQ-32 sonar is a variable-depth mine-hunting sonar system designed for detecting and classifying moored and bottom mines in mine countermeasure operations. It includes two separate active sonar systems to detect and classify mine-like objects on the surface in the volume or on the bottom of the sea. The sonar systems are packaged in a single towed body tethered to the ship through a cable providing power and data transmission with the cable length variable via an electric winch. 2. The detect and classify sonar subsystems are independently monitored and controlled by two operators at independent panels working together to find and characterize underwater objects as mine or non-mine like objects. The detection system is a low frequency, low resolution, high range sonar designed to provide a general location of possible mine-like objects. It provides much greater range than the classify sonar system, but provides little resolution and detail of the objects it detects. The classify sonar has a lower range, but higher frequency and higher resolution, allowing the classification of a target as mine- like or non-mine-like. 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 specific hardware and software elements, the information could be used to develop countermeasures that 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 Spain can provide substantially the same degree of protection for the sensitive technology being released as the U.S. Government. This proposed 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 have been authorized for release and export to the Government of Spain. ____________________