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. 24-121, concerning the Army's proposed Letter(s) of Offer and Acceptance to the Government of Iraq for defense articles and services estimated to cost $110 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. 24-121, concerning the Army's proposed Letter(s) of Offer and Acceptance to the Government of Iraq for defense articles and services estimated to cost $110 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. 24-121, concerning the Army's proposed Letter(s) of Offer and Acceptance to the Government of Iraq for defense articles and services estimated to cost $110 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. 24-121 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 Iraq.
(ii) Total Estimated Value:
Major Defense Equipment* $0.
Other $110 million.
Total $110 million.
Funding Source: National Funds.
(iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or Services under Consideration for Purchase: Foreign Military Sales (FMS) case IQ-B-APT was below congressional notification threshold at $46 million ($0 in MDE) and included Very Small Aperture Terminals (VSAT); VSAT modems; VSAT hubs; L-band tactical satellite service (L-TAC) manpacks; commercial satellite services; satellite ground terminals, modems, and hubs; spare parts; field service representative services; and technical support and training. The Government of Iraq has requested the case be amended to include additional VSATs; VSAT items; and related support. This amendment will cause the case to exceed the notification threshold, and thus notification of the entire program is required.
Major Defense Equipment (MDE): None.
Non-Major Defense Equipment: The following non-MDE items will be included: Very Small Aperture Terminals (VSAT); VSAT modems; VSAT hubs; L-band tactical satellite service (L-TAC) manpacks; commercial satellite services; satellite ground terminals; modems and hubs; spare parts; field service representative services; technical support and training; personnel training; U.S. Government and contractor engineering, technical, and logistics support services and personnel services; and other related elements of logistics and program support.
(iv) Military Department: Army (IQ-B-APT).
(v) Prior Related Cases, if any: IQ-B-AAO.
(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: January 14, 2026.
*As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control Act. POLICY JUSTIFICATION Iraq--Very Small Aperture Terminals
The Government of Iraq has requested to buy additional Very Small Aperture Terminals (VSAT); VSAT modems; VSAT hubs; L- band tactical satellite service manpacks; spare parts; personnel training; U.S. Government and contractor engineering, technical, and logistics support services and personnel services; and other related elements of logistics and program support that will be added to a previously implemented case whose value was under the congressional notification threshold. The original Foreign Military Sales (FMS) case, valued at $46 million ($0 in Major Defense Equipment), included VSATs; VSAT modems; VSAT hubs; L-TAC manpacks; commercial satellite services; satellite ground terminals, modems, and hubs; spare parts; field service representative services; and technical support and training. The estimated total cost is $110 million.
This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security of the United States by helping to improve the security of a strategic partner.
The proposed sale will improve Iraq's capability to meet current and future threats by improving its satellite communication capability across the Ministry of Defense's communication infrastructure. This investment in the Government of Iraq's command and control capabilities is crucial to protecting its borders, energy infrastructure, and residents. Iraq 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 Network Innovations, located in Frederick, MD. 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 require the assignment of two additional U.S. Government and five U.S. contractor representatives to Iraq for a duration of five years to support quarterly program management reviews, provide engineering consulting and technical assessments for equipment upgrades and evolutions to the VSAT hubs and modems, and to conduct in-country training.
There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a result of this proposed sale.
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