[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 71 (Thursday, April 27, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1411-S1412]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
ARMS SALES NOTIFICATION
Mr. MENENDEZ. 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.
In keeping with the committee's intention to see that relevant
information is available to the full Senate, I ask unanimous consent to
have printed in the Record the notifications which have been received.
If the cover letter references a classified annex, then such annex is
available to all Senators in the office of the Foreign Relations
Committee, room SD-423.
There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in
the Record, as follows:
Defense Security
Cooperation Agency,
Washington, DC.
Hon. Robert Menendez,
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. 23-32,
concerning the Navy's proposed Letter(s) of Offer and
Acceptance to the Government of Norway for defense articles
and services estimated to cost $1 billion. We will issue a
news release to notify the public of this proposed sale upon
delivery of this letter to your office.
Sincerely,
Mike Miller,
(for James A. Hursch, Director).
Enclosures.
Transmittal No. 23-32
Notice of Proposed Issuance of Letter of Offer Pursuant to
Section 36(b)(l) of the Arms Export Control Act, as
amended
(i) Prospective Purchaser: Government of Norway.
(ii) Total Estimated Value:
Major Defense Equipment * $.550 billion.
Other $.450 billion.
Total $1.000 billion.
(iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or
Services under Consideration for Purchase:
Major Defense Equipment (MDE):
Six (6) MH-60R Multi-Mission Helicopters.
Fifteen (15) T-700-GE-401C Engines (12 installed, 3
spares).
Nine (9) Link 16 Multifunctional Information Distribution
Systems Joint Tactical
[[Page S1412]]
Radio Systems (MIDS JTRS) (6 installed, 3 spares).
Eighteen (18) Embedded Global Positioning System/Precise
Positioning Service (GPS/PPS)/Inertial Navigation Systems
(EGI) with Selective Availability/Anti-Spoofing Module
(SAASM) (12 installed, 6 spares).
Six (6) Airborne Low Frequency Sonars (ALFS) (aircraft
provisions only).
Non-MDE: Also included are M514 impulse cartridge/cartridge
actuated devices; MJ20 cartridge actuated thruster/cartridge
actuated devices; WB53 fire extinguisher cartridge/cartridge
actuated devices; CCU-136A/A impulse cartridge; GAU-21 crew-
served guns (including pintle and laser pointer); AN/ARC-210
RT-2036 radios with Communications Security (COMSEC); AN/AAR-
47 missile warning systems; AN/APX-123 Identification Friend
or Foe (IFF) transponders; AN/ALE-47 dispensers; Electronic
Countermeasures; Advanced Data Transfer Systems (ADTS); AN/
AAS-44C(V) Multi-Spectral Targeting Systems; Identification
Friend or Foe Mode 4/5 Cryptographic Applique, KIV-78; Joint
Mission Planning Systems (JMPS); AN/ARQ-59 Hawklink radio
terminals; Training Simulators/Operational Machine Interface
Assistants (ATS/OMIA); Aviation Maintenance Weapons Loading
Trainer (AMWLT); Tactical Operational Flight Trainer (TOFT);
AN/ALQ-210 Electronic Support Measures (ESM) systems; APS-
153(V) multi-mode radars; spare engine containers; spare and
repair parts; support and test equipment; communications
equipment; ferry support; publications and technical
documentation; personnel training and training equipment;
U.S. Government and contractor engineering, technical, and
logistics support services; obsolescence engineering,
integration, and test activities required to ensure readiness
for the production of the Norwegian MH-60R helicopters; and
other related elements of logistics and program support.
(iv) Military Department: Navy (NO-P-SAR).
(v) Prior Related Cases, if any: NO-P-GFF.
(vi) Sales Commission, Fee, etc., Paid, Offered, or Agreed
to be Paid: None.
(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: April 26, 2023.
* As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control
Act.
POLICY JUSTIFICATION
Norway--Defense Articles and Services Related to the MH-60R Multi-
Mission Helicopters
The Government of Norway has requested to buy six (6) MH-
60R Multi-Mission Helicopters; fifteen (15) T-700-GE-401C
engines (12 installed, 3 spares); nine (9) Link 16
Multifunctional Information Distribution Systems Joint
Tactical Radio Systems (MIDS JTRS) (6 installed, 3 spares);
eighteen (18) Embedded Global Positioning System/Precise
Positioning Service (GPS/PPS)/Inertial Navigation Systems
(EGI) with Selective Availability/Anti-Spoofing Module
(SAASM) (12 installed, 6 spares); and six (6) Airborne Low
Frequency Sonars (ALFS) (aircraft provisions only). Also
included are M514 impulse cartridge/cartridge actuated
devices; MJ20 cartridge actuated thruster/cartridge actuated
devices; WB53 fire extinguisher cartridge/cartridge actuated
devices; CCU-136A/A impulse cartridges; GAU-21 crew served
guns (including pintle and laser pointer); AN/ARC-210 RT-2036
radios with Communications Security (COMSEC); AN/AAR-47
missile warning systems; AN/APX-123 Identification Friend or
Foe (IFF) transponders; AN/ALE-47 dispensers; Electronic
Countermeasures; Advanced Data Transfer Systems (ADTS); AN/
AAS-44C(V) Multi-Spectral Targeting Systems; Identification
Friend or Foe Mode 4/5 Cryptographic Applique, KIV-78; Joint
Mission Planning Systems (JMPS); AN/ARQ-59 Hawklink radio
terminals; Training Simulators/Operational Machine Interface
Assistants (ATS/OMIA); Aviation Maintenance Weapons Loading
Trainer (AMWLT); Tactical Operational Flight Trainer (TOFT);
AN/ALQ-210 Electronic Support Measures (ESM) systems; APS-
153(V) multi-mode radars; spare engine containers; spare and
repair parts; support and test equipment; communications
equipment; ferry support; publications and technical
documentation; personnel training and training equipment;
U.S. Government and contractor engineering, technical, and
logistics support services; obsolescence engineering,
integration, and test activities required to ensure readiness
for the production of the Norwegian MH-60R helicopters; and
other related elements of logistics and program support. The
total estimated program cost is $1 billion.
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 an important
force for political stability and economic progress in
Europe.
The proposed sale will improve Norway's capability to
perform search and rescue, anti-surface, and anti-submarine
warfare missions along with the ability to perform secondary
missions, including vertical replenishment and communications
relay. Norway will use the enhanced capability as a deterrent
to regional threats and to strengthen its homeland defense.
Norway will have no difficulty absorbing these helicopters
and support 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 Rotary and
Mission Systems, Owego, New York. The purchaser has requested
offsets. Any offset agreement will be defined in negotiations
between the purchaser and the contractor.
Implementation of this proposed sale will require multiple
trips by U.S. Government representatives and the assignment
of contractor representatives to Norway on an intermittent
basis over the life of the case to support delivery and
integration of items and to provide supply support
management, inventory control, and equipment familiarization.
In addition, there will be up to four (4) contractor
representatives in Norway full-time for the duration of the
case.
There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness
as a result of this proposed sale.
Transmittal No. 23-32
Notice of Proposed Issuance of Letter of Offer Pursuant to
Section 36(b)(l) of the Arms Export Control Act
Annex Item No. vii
(vii) Sensitivity of Technology:
1. The MH-60R Multi-Mission Helicopter focuses primarily on
anti-submarine warfare (ASW) and anti-surface warfare (ASuW)
missions. The MH-60R also performs search and rescue, naval
gunfire support, surveillance, communications relay,
logistics support, personnel transfer, and vertical
replenishment missions. The MH-60R carries several sensors
and data links to enhance its ability to work in a network
centric battle group and as an extension of its home ship or
main operating base. The mission equipment subsystem consists
of the following sensors and subsystems: an acoustics system
capable of, but not configured for, future dipping sonar and
sonobuoy operations, Multi-Mode Radar (MMR) with integral
Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) interrogator, radios with
COMSEC, Electronic Support Measures (ESM), Integrated Self-
Defense (ISD), and Multi-Spectral Targeting System (MTS). The
aircraft processes sensor data onboard, and transmits data
via Common Data Link (CDL) (also referred to as Hawklink).
The aircraft is night vision compatible. It can carry AGM-
114A/B/K/N Hellfire missiles, as well as MK 46/54 torpedoes
to engage surface and sub-surface targets. The MH-60R Multi-
Mission Helicopter is capable of carrying the Airborne Low
Frequency Sonars (ALFS), GAU-61 Digital Rocket Launchers,
Advanced Precision Kill Weapons System (APKWS), GAU-21 crew-
served guns, and M240 crew-served guns.
2. The highest level of classification of defense articles,
components, and services included in this potential sale is
SECRET.
3. 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 weapon system effectiveness or be used in the
development of a system with similar or advanced
capabilities.
4. A determination has been made that Norway 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.
5. All defense articles and services listed in this
transmittal have been authorized for release and export to
the Government of Norway.
____________________