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 of the House, 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. 26-11, concerning the Air Force's proposed Letter(s) of Offer and Acceptance to the Government of Italy for defense articles and services estimated to cost $301 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. 26-11, concerning the Air Force's proposed Letter(s) of Offer and Acceptance to the Government of Italy for defense articles and services estimated to cost $301 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. 26-11, concerning the Air Force's proposed Letter(s) of Offer and Acceptance to the Government of Italy for defense articles and services estimated to cost $301 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. 26-11 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 Italy.
(ii) Total Estimated Value:
Major Defense Equipment* $246 million.
Other $55 million.
Total $301 million.
Funding Source: National Funds
(iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or Services under Consideration for Purchase:
Major Defense Equipment (MDE): One hundred (100) AGM-158B/ B-2 Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missiles with Extended Range (JASSM-ER)
Non-Major Defense Equipment: The following non-MDE items will also be included: JASSM classified test equipment and containers; KGV-135A encryption devices; Global Positioning Systems (GPS) Precise Positioning Service (PPS); spare and repair parts, consumables and accessories, and repair and return support; weapon system support and software; classified and unclassified software; classified and unclassified publications and technical documentation; transportation support; site surveys; 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 (IT-D-YAF).
(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: December 5, 2025.
* As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control Act. POLICY JUSTIFICATION Italy--Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missiles with Extended Range
The Government of Italy has requested to buy one hundred (100) AGM-158B/B-2 Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missiles with Extended Range (JASSM-ER). The following non-MDE items will also be included: JASSM classified test equipment and containers; KGV-135A encryption devices; spare and repair parts, consumables and accessories, and repair and return support; weapon system support and software; classified and unclassified software; classified and unclassified publications and technical documentation; transportation support; 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 $301 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 Italy's capability to meet current and future threats by providing stand-off capability via advanced, long-range strike systems for employment on Italian fighter aircraft, including but not limited to F-35 aircraft. Italy 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 contractor will be Lockheed Martin, located in Orlando, FL. 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 Italy.
There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a result of this proposed sale. Transmittal No. 26-11 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 AGM-158B/B-2 Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile with Extended Range (JASSM-ER) All Up Round (AUR) is a low- observable, highly survivable, subsonic cruise missile designed to penetrate next-generation air defense systems enroute to target. The JASSM-ER is designed to kill hard, medium-hardened, soft, and area type targets. The extended range over the baseline was obtained by going from a turbo jet to a turbo-fan engine and by reconfiguring the fuel tanks for added capacity. Precise positioning will be provided by either Selective Availability Anti-Spoofing Module or M-Code.
a. The AGM-158B-2 system capabilities include all the capabilities of the AGM-158B. The AGM-158B-2 configuration will have different internal components to address multiple obsolescence issues as well as subcomponent updates to position for M-Code and other potential upgrades. Global Positioning System/Precise Positioning Service (GPS/PPS) to be provided by either Selective Availability Anti-Spoofing Module (SAASM) or M-Code.
2. The KGV-135 A is a high-speed, general purpose encryptor/decryptor module used for wideband data encryption.
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 Italy can provide substantially the same degree of protection for the sensitive technology being released as the U.S. Government. This 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 Italy.
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