Arms Sales Notification
Floor Speech
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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.
Hon. Mike Johnson, Speaker, House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
Dear Mr. Speaker: Pursuant to the reporting requirements of Section 36(b)(1) of the Arms Export Control Act, as amended, we are forwarding herewith Transmittal No. 25-84, concerning the Air Force's proposed Letter(s) of Offer and Acceptance to the Government of Bahrain for defense articles and services estimated to cost $445 million. We will issue a news release to notify the public of this proposed sale upon delivery of this letter to your office. Sincerely, Michael F. Miller, Director.
Enclosures. Defense Security Cooperation Agency, Washington, DC. Hon. James E. Risch, 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. 25-84, concerning the Air Force's proposed Letter(s) of Offer and Acceptance to the Government of Bahrain for defense articles and services estimated to cost $445 million. We will issue a news release to notify the public of this proposed sale upon delivery of this letter to your office. Sincerely, Michael F. Miller, Director.
Enclosures. Defense Security Cooperation Agency, Washington, DC. Hon. Brian Mast, Chairman, Committee on Foreign Affairs, House of Representatives, 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. 25-84, concerning the Air Force's proposed Letter(s) of Offer and Acceptance to the Government of Bahrain for defense articles and services estimated to cost $445 million. We will issue a news release to notify the public of this proposed sale upon delivery of this letter to your office. Sincerely, Michael F. Miller, Director.
Enclosures. Transmittal No. 25-84 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 Bahrain.
(ii) Total Estimated Value:
Major Defense Equipment* $0.
Other $445 million.
Total $445 million.
Funding Source: National Funds.
(iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or Services under Consideration for Purchase: Foreign Military Sales case BA-D-QDH was below congressional notification threshold at $47 million ($O in major defense equipment) for F-16 aircraft sustainment. The Government of Bahrain has requested that the case be amended to include additional support which will cause the case to exceed the notification threshold, and thus notification of the entire program is required. The notification requirements are combined as follows:
Major Defense Equipment (MDE): None.
Non-Major Defense Equipment: Major and minor modifications; Computer Program Identification Numbers (CPINs); aircraft maintenance support equipment; launcher spare parts and support equipment; spare parts, consumables and accessories, and repair and return support; aircraft components; missile containers; radar warning receiver component parts; guidance and control section spares; weapons system support; ground handling equipment; instruments and lab equipment; classified and unclassified software delivery and support; classified and unclassified publications and technical documentation; studies and surveys; transportation support; 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 (BA-D-QDH).
(v) Prior Related Cases, if any: BA-D-SAB.
(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: December 1, 2025.
* As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control Act. POLICY JUSTIFICATION Bahrain--F-16 Sustainment
The Government of Bahrain has requested to buy aircraft components; missile containers; radar receiver component parts; guidance and control section spares; weapons system support; ground handling equipment; and instruments and lab equipment that will be added to a previously implemented case whose value was under the congressional notification threshold. The original Foreign Military Sales case, valued at $47 million ($0 in major defense equipment), included major and minor modifications; Computer Program Identification Numbers (CPINs); aircraft maintenance support equipment; launcher spare parts and support equipment; spare parts, consumables and accessories, and repair and return support; classified and unclassified software delivery and support; classified and unclassified publications and technical documentation; studies and surveys; transportation 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 $445 million.
This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security of the United States by helping to improve the security of a major non-NATO ally that is an important force for political stability and economic progress in the Middle East.
The proposed sale will improve Bahrain's capability to meet current and future threats by providing a credible force that can deter adversaries and provide the capability to participate in regional operations with the United States and other U.S. partner nations. Bahrain 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 contractors will be General Electric Aerospace, located in Evendale, OH; and Lockheed Martin Aeronautics, located in Fort Worth, TX. 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 additional U.S. Government and U.S. contractor representatives to Bahrain.
There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a result of this proposed sale.
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