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)(5)(C) of the Arms Export Control Act (AECA), as amended, we are forwarding Transmittal No. 25-1O. This notification relates to enhancements or upgrades from the level of sensitivity of technology or capability described in the Section 36(b)(1) AECA certification 21-17 of May 10, 2021. Sincerely. Michael F. Miller, Director.
Enclosure. ____ 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)(5)(C) of the Arms Export Control Act (AECA), as amended, we are forwarding Transmittal No. 25-1O. This notification relates to enhancements or upgrades from the level of sensitivity of technology or capability described in the Section 36(b)(1) AECA certification 21-17 of May 10, 2021. Sincerely, Michael F. Miller, Director.
Enclosure. ____ 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)(5)(C) of the Arms Export Control Act (AECA), as amended, we are forwarding Transmittal No. 25-1O. This notification relates to enhancements or upgrades from the level of sensitivity of technology or capability described in the Section 36(b)(1) AECA certification 21-17 of May 10, 2021. Sincerely, Michael F. Miller, Director.
Enclosure. Transmittal No. 25-1O Report of Enhancement or Upgrade of Sensitivity of Technology or Capability (Sec. 36(b)(5)(C), AECA)
(i) Prospective Purchaser: Government of Canada.
(ii) Sec. 36(b)(1), AECA Transmittal No.: 21-17; Date: May 10, 2021; Implementing Agency: Navy.
(iii) Description: On May 10, 2021, Congress was notified by congressional certification transmittal number 21-17 of the possible sale, under Section 36(b)(1) of the Arms Export Control Act, of four (4) Shipsets of the AEGIS Combat System (ACS); one (1) AEGIS Combat System Computer Program; four (4) Shipsets of AN/SPY-7 Solid State Radar Components; four (4) Shipsets of Cooperative Engagement Capability (CEC); and three (3) Shipsets of the MK 41 Vertical Launch System. Also included were Mode 5/S capable Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) equipment; early ACS development activities for the Canadian Surface Combatant (CSC) Project to include U.S. Government and contractor representative engineering activities supporting design, integration, testing, technical documentation, modeling, and training; hardware to support development and testing in U.S. facilities; software; documentation (including combat system capabilities and limitations); training devices and services; technical support; and other related elements of logistical and program support. The estimated total cost was $1.7 billion. Major Defense Equipment (MDE) constituted $0.7 billion of this total.
On August 10, 2022, Congress was notified by congressional certification transmittal number 0L-22 of the inclusion of the following MDE items: four (4) shipsets of Global Positioning System Based Positioning, Navigation, and Timing Service (GPNTS). The estimated total value of the MDE items was $8 million, but did not cause an increase in the total estimated program cost. The estimated total case value remained $1.7 billion with MDE remaining $0.7 billion of this total.
On October 4, 2024, Congress was notified by congressional certification transmittal number 24-0L of the inclusion of the following MDE items: four (4) of AN/WSN-12 Inertial Navigation System (INS); two (2) Tactical Tomahawk Weapon Control System (TTWCS); five (5) Multifunction Information Distribution System Joint Tactical Radio Systems (MIDS JTRS) (4 installed, 1 test asset); four (4) MIDS On Ship Modernized (MOS Mod); two (2) Command and Control Processor (C2P); and four (4) AN/SLQ-32(v)6 Electronic Warfare System (EWS). The following non-MDE items was also included: Global Command and Control System--Maritime (GCCS--Ms), AN/WSN-7 INS; and MK-331 Torpedo Setting Panel (TSPs). The estimated total case value was $2.6 billion. MDE remained as $0.7 billion of this total.
This transmittal notifies the inclusion of the following MDE items: four (4) Next Generation Surface Search Radars; four (4) Rolling Airframe Missile Guided Missile Launcher Systems; four (4) Shipboard Panoramic Electro-Optic Infrared (SPEIR) systems; three (3) MK-45 5-inch gun mounts; and five (5) command and control processors. The following non-MDE items will also be included: MK-34 Gun Weapon Systems. The estimated total value of the new items is $1.3 billion. The estimated total cost of the new MDE items will increase by $500 million to a revised $1.2 billion. The estimated total cost of the new non-MDE items will increase by $800 million to a revised $2.7 billion. The estimated total case value will increase by $1.3 billion to a revised $3.9 billion.
(iv) Significance: This MDE was not included in the previous notification. The inclusion of this MDE represents an increase in capability over what was previously notified. The proposed articles and services will increase Canada's capability to meet current and future threats by incorporating tactical components integrated in the Aegis Combat System and currently fielding in the U.S. Navy.
(v) Justification: This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States by helping to improve the military capability of Canada, a NATO Ally that is an important force for ensuring political stability and economic progress, and a contributor to military, peacekeeping, and humanitarian operations around the world.
(vi) This capability will protect Canada by enabling it to neutralize and destroy adversary threats, improving Canada's contribution to collective hemispheric defense and to defense and deterrence in Europe, as directed by NATO's defense plans. Canada will have no difficulty absorbing these articles and services into its armed forces.
(vii) Sensitivity of Technology:
Next Generation Surface Search Radar (NGSSR) is the U.S. Navy's multi-mission navigation, surface search and periscope detection radar replacing multiple legacy surface radar systems.
Rolling Airframe Missile (RAM) MK-31 Guided Missile Weapon System, including the Guided Missile Launcher System (GMLS), supports all variants of the RAM all-up-round for launch support and integration to multiple combat system configurations, providing terminal shipboard air defense on surface combatants.
Shipboard Panoramic Electro-Optic Infrared (SPEIR) is an electro-optic/infrared (EO/IR) system on surface ships that provides persistent detection and tracking of a wide variety of air and surface targets in support of multi-mission surface ship operations and defense.
The MK-45 gun mount is a fully automatic gun firing a 5- inch shell. It is the U.S. Navy's primary anti-surface gunnery capability also used for anti-air warfare as part of layered defense. It is controlled by the MK-160 Gun Computing System (GCS).
The command and control processor is a shipboard system that provides real-time control and management of Tactical Digital Information Links (TADILs) through interfaces with the host combat system and tactical data link terminals. TADILs include Link-16, Link-22, Satellite TADIL J, and Joint Range Extension.
The MK-34 Gun Weapon System is comprised of the MK-45 gun mount, MK-160 GCS, and MK-20 EO/IR gun sight system (EOSS). The system supports anti-air and antisurface warfare and Naval Gunfire Support through the use of 5-inch rounds and integration to the combat system.
The Sensitivity of Technology Statement contained in the original notification applies to additional items mentioned.
The highest level of classification of defense articles, components, and services included in this potential sale is SECRET.
(viii) Date Report Delivered to Congress: December 23, 2025.
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