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September 17, 2026
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Download official Senate Record PDFReturn to issue contextMr. 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.
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.
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,
*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:
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.
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.
components, and services included in this potential sale is
SECRET.
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.
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.
transmittal have been authorized for release and export to
the Government of Spain.