[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 17 (Tuesday, January 30, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Pages S283-S285]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        ARMS SALES NOTIFICATION

  Mr. CARDIN. 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

[[Page S284]]

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.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

                                                  Defense Security


                                           Cooperation Agency,

                                                   Washington, DC.
     Hon. Benjamin L. Cardin,
     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. 24-23, 
     concerning the Army's proposed Letter(s) of Offer and 
     Acceptance to the Government of Croatia for defense articles 
     and services estimated to cost $500 million. We will issue a 
     news release to notify the public of this proposed sale upon 
     delivery of this letter to your office.
           Sincerely,
                                                  James A. Hursch,
                                                         Director.
       Enclosures.


                         Transmittal No. 24-23

     Notice of Proposed Issuance of Letter of Offer Pursuant to 
         Section 36(b)(1) of the Arms Exports Control Act, as 
         amended
       (i) Prospective Purchaser: Government of Croatia.
       (ii) Total Estimate Value:
       Major Defense Equipment* $250 million.
       Other $250 million.
       Total $500 million.
       Funding source: Foreign Military Financing and National 
     Funds.
       (iii) Description and Quality or Quantities of Articles or 
     Services under Consideration for Purchase:
       Major Defense Equipment (MDE):
       Eight (8) UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters.
       Nineteen (19) T700-GE 701D engines (16 installed, 3 
     spares).
       Twenty (20) AN/ARC-231A RT-1987 very high frequency (VHF)/
     ultra high frequency (UHF)/Line of Sight (LOS) satellite 
     communications (SATCOM) radios.
       Ten (10) AN/AAR-57 Counter Missile Warning Systems (CMWS).
       Twenty (20) H-764U Embedded Global Position Systems with 
     Inertial Navigation (EGI) and Selective Availability Anti-
     Spoofing Module (SAASM) (or future replacement).
       Eighteen (18) M240H machine guns.
       Non-MDE: Also included are AN/ARC-231 RT-1808A (or future 
     replacement) VHF/UHF/LOS SATCOM radios; APR-39C(V)1/4 radar 
     warning receivers; AVR-2B laser detecting sets; APX-123A 
     Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) transponders (or future 
     replacement); ARC-220 high frequency (HF) radio with KY-100M; 
     VRC-100 ground stations; AN/PYQ-10 Simple Key Loader (SKL); 
     KIV-77 Common Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) crypto 
     applique computers; KY-100M; communications security (COMSEC) 
     encrytion devices AN/ARN-147(V) VHF Omni-Directional Range 
     (VOR)/instrument landing systems (ILS) receiver radio; AN/
     ARN-149(V) low frequency (LF)/automatic direction finder 
     (ADF) radio receiver; AN/ARN-153 tactical air navigation 
     system (TACAN) receiver-transmitter; AN/APN-209 radar 
     altimeter; AN/ARC-210 radios; EBC-406HM emergency locator 
     transmitter (ELT); Encrypted Aircraft Wireless 
     Intercommunications Systems (EAWIS); Improved Heads-Up 
     Display (IHUD); signal data converters for IHUD; signal 
     converters for heads-up display (HUD); forward-looking 
     infrared (FLIR) with electro-optical and infrared (EO/IR) 
     capabilities; EO/IR cabin monitoring systems; EO/IR digital 
     video recorder; AN/ARC-201D RT-1478D (or future replacement); 
     Enhanced Ballistic Armor Protection Systems (EBAPS); Internal 
     Auxiliary Fuel Tank Systems (IAFTS); Fast Rope Insertion & 
     Extraction System (FRIES); External Rescue Hoist (ERH); 
     rescue hoist equipment sets; Dual Patient Litter System 
     (DPLS) Sets; Martin Baker palletized Crew Chief/Gunner seats 
     with crashworthy floor structural modifications; External 
     Stores Support System (ESSS); Integrated Tow Plates 
     Production Assets; universal software loading kits; 60k volt-
     ampere (VA) generator kits; instrumental panel sets; external 
     gun mount systems; Black Hawk Aircrew Trainer (BAT); Black 
     Hawk Maintenance Trainer (BHMT-M); Black Hawk Avionics 
     Trainer; Maintenance Blended Reconfigurable Avionics Trainer 
     (MBRAT); training devices; helmets; transportation; 
     organizational support equipment; spare and repair parts; 
     support equipment; tools and test equipment; technical data 
     and publications; personnel training and training equipment; 
     U.S. government and contractor engineering, technical, and 
     logistics support services; and other related elements of 
     logistics and program support.
       (iv) Military Department: Army HR-B-UCH).
       (v) Prior Related Cases, if any: 7L-B-UGK, HR-B-UBQ, HR-B-
     UBT.
       (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: January 26, 2024.
       * As defined in section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control 
     Act.


                          POLICY JUSTIFICATION

                 Croatia--UH-60M Black Hawk Helicopters

       The Government of Croatia has requested to buy eight (8) 
     UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters; nineteen (19) T700-GE 701D 
     engines (16 installed, 3 spares); twenty (20) AN/ARC-231A RT-
     1987 very high frequency (VHF)/ultra high frequency (UHF)/
     Line of Sight (LOS) satellite communications (SATCOM) radios; 
     ten (10) AN/AAR-57 Counter Missile Warning Systems (CMWS); 
     twenty (20) H-764U Embedded Global Position Systems with 
     Inertial Navigation (EGI) and Selective Availability Anti-
     Spoofing Module (SAASM) (or future replacement); and eighteen 
     (18) M240H machine guns. Also included are: AN/ARC-231 RT-
     1808A (or future replacement) VHF/UHF/LOS SATCOM radios; APR-
     39C(V)l/4 radar warning receivers; AVR-28 laser detecting 
     sets; APX-123A Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) 
     transponders (or future replacement); ARC-220 high frequency 
     (HF) radio with KY-100M; VRC-100 ground stations; AN/PYQ-10 
     Simple Key Loader (SKL); KIV-77 Common Identification Friend 
     or Foe (IFF) crypto applique computers; KY-100M; 
     communications security (COMSEC) encryption devices AN/ARN-
     147(V) VHF Omni-Directional Range (VOR)/instrument landing 
     system (ILS) receiver radio; AN/ARN-149(V) low frequency 
     (LF)/automatic direction finder (ADF) radio receiver; AN/ARN-
     153 tactical air navigation system (TACAN) receiver-
     transmitter; AN/APN-209 radar altimeter; AN/ARC-210 radios; 
     EBC-406HM emergency locator transmitter (ELT); Encrypted 
     Aircraft Wireless Intercommunications Systems (EAWIS); 
     Improved Heads-Up Display (IHUD); signal data converters for 
     IHUD; signal data converters for heads-up display (HUD); 
     forward-looking infrared (FLIR) with electro-optical and 
     infrared (EO/IR) capabilities; EO/IR cabin monitoring 
     systems; EO/IR digital video recorder; AN/ARC-201D RT-1478D 
     (or future replacement); Enhanced Ballistic Armor Protection 
     Systems (EBAPS); Internal Auxiliary Fuel Tank Systems 
     (IAFTS); Fast Rope Insertion & Extraction System (FRIES); 
     External Rescue Hoist (ERH); rescue hoist equipment sets; 
     Dual Patient Litter System (DPLS) Sets; Martin Baker 
     palletized Crew Chief/Gunner seats with crashworthy floor 
     structural modifications; External Stores Support System 
     (ESSS); Integrated Tow Plates Production Assets; universal 
     software loading kits; 60k volt-ampere (VA) generator kits; 
     instrument panel sets; external gun mount systems; Black Hawk 
     Aircrew Trainer (BAT); Black Hawk Maintenance Trainer (BHMT-
     M); Black Hawk Avionics Trainer; Maintenance Blended 
     Reconfigurable Avionics Trainer (MBRAT); training devices; 
     helmets; transportation; organizational equipment; spare and 
     repair parts; support equipment; tools and test equipment; 
     technical data and publications; personnel training and 
     training equipment; 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 $500 million.
       This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and 
     national security of the United States by improving the 
     security of a NATO Ally that continues to be an important 
     force for political stability and economic progress in 
     Europe.
       The proposed sale will improve Croatia's capability to 
     deter current and future threats and support coalition 
     operations as well as promote interoperability with the 
     United States and other NATO forces. Croatia will have no 
     difficulty absorbing this equipment into its armed forces.
       The principal contractor will be Lockheed Martin/Sikorsky, 
     in Stratford, CT. There are no known offset agreements in 
     connection with this potential sale.
       Implementation of this proposed sale will require 
     approximately fifteen (15) U.S. Government and/or fifteen 
     (15) contractor representatives to travel to Croatia for an 
     extended period for equipment de-processing/fielding, system 
     checkout, training, and technical and logistics support.
       There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness 
     as a result of this proposed sale.


                         Transmittal No. 24-23

     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 UH-60M aircraft is a medium lift four bladed 
     aircraft which includes two (2) T-701D engines. The aircraft 
     has four (4) Multifunction Displays (MFD), which provides 
     aircraft system, flight, mission, and communication 
     management systems. The instrumentation panel includes four 
     (4) Multifunction Displays (MFDs), two (2) Pilot and Co-Pilot 
     Flight Director Panels, and two (2) Data Concentrator Units 
     (DCUs). The Navigation System will have Embedded Global 
     Positioning System (GPS)/Inertial Navigation System (INS) 
     (EGIs), and two (2) Advanced Flight Control Computer Systems 
     (AFCC), which provide 4 axis aircraft control:

[[Page S285]]

       a. The AN/ARC-201 very high frequency (VHF)--frequency 
     modulation (FM) (VHF-FM) Single Channel Ground and Airborne 
     Radio System (SINCGARS) is a reliable, field-proven voice and 
     data communication system used with the UH-60. A non 
     communications security (COMSEC) export variant of this radio 
     that meets these requirements will be provided.
       b. AN/ARC-231 RT-1808A (or future replacement) VHF/UHF/LOS 
     satellite communications (SATCOM) Radios. The AN/ARC-231 is a 
     software-definable radio for military aircraft that provides 
     two-way, multi-mode voice and data communications over a 30 
     Hz to 512 MHz frequency range. It covers both line-of-sight 
     ultra high frequency (UHF) and VHF bands with amplitude 
     modulation (AM), FM, and SATCOM capabilities.
       c. The AN/ARC-231A is a software-definable radio for 
     military aircraft that provides two-way, multi-mode voice and 
     data communications over a 30 Hz to 512 MHz frequency range. 
     No designated exportable, non-COMSEC capable version is 
     planned. The AN/ARC-231A supports both line-of-sight UHF and 
     VHF bands with AM, FM, and SATCOM capabilities. It also 
     includes embedded frequency agile modes, Electronic Counter-
     Countermeasures (ECCM), anti-jam waveforms including Have 
     Quick and Single Channel Ground and Airborne Radio System 
     (SINCGARS), Demand Assigned Multiple Access (DAMA), and 
     Integrated Waveform (IW). It provides simultaneous, real-time 
     participation in tactical voice and data communications 
     networks. The RT-1987 will provide National Security Agency 
     (NSA) Tactical Secure Voice Cryptographic Interoperability 
     Specification (TSVCIS) 3.1.1 crypto modernization compliance. 
     Operator selectable air (raffle control channel spacing of 5, 
     8.33, 12.5, and 25 kHz steps, and other data link and secure 
     communications features, provide battlefield 
     interoperability.
       d. The AN/ARC-210 is a family of radios for military 
     aircraft that provides two-way, multi-mode voice and data 
     communications over a 30 to 512+ MHz frequency range. It 
     covers both UHF and VHF bands with AM, FM, and SATCOM 
     capabilities. The ARC-210 radio also includes embedded anti-
     jam waveforms, including Have Quick and SINCGARS, and other 
     data link and secure communications features, providing total 
     battlefield interoperability and high-performance 
     capabilities in the transfer of data, voice, and imagery. The 
     software-programmable encryption is under the NSA 
     Cryptographic Modernization Initiative.
       e. The AN/ARC-220 High Frequency (HF) Airborne 
     Communication System provides rotary-wing aircraft with 
     advanced voice and data capabilities for short- and long-
     distance communications. The system is software programmable 
     with a frequency range of 2.0000-29.9999 MHz, in 100 Hz steps 
     and provides for providing embedded automatic Link 
     establishment (ALE), serial tone data modem, text messaging, 
     GPS position reporting, and anti-jam (ECCM) functions.
       f. The AN/APX-123A (or future replacement) Identification 
     Friend or Foe (IFF) Transponder is a space diversity 
     transponder and is installed on various military platforms. 
     When installed in conjunction with platform antennas and the 
     remote control unit (or other appropriate control unit), the 
     transponder provides identification, altitude, and 
     surveillance reporting in response to interrogations from 
     airborne, ground-based, and surface interrogators. The 
     transponder will be classified SECRET if MODE IV, MODE 5, or 
     MODE S fill is installed in the-equipment with a crypto 
     device. This item contains sensitive technology.
       g. The VRC-100 HF Communication System is the ground 
     station version of the AN/ARC-220 for use in Aviation 
     Operation Centers. It provides for advanced voice and data 
     capabilities for short- and long-distance communications. The 
     system is software programmable with a frequency range of 
     2.0000-29.9999 MHz in 100 Hz steps and provides embedded 
     Automatic Link Establishment (ALE), serial tone data modem, 
     text messaging, GPS position reporting, and anti-jam (ECCM) 
     functions. The system is purchased with all required mounts, 
     amplifiers, antennas, power supplies, and accessories.
       h. The AN/PYQ-10 Simple Key Loader (SKL) is a ruggedized, 
     portable, hand-held fill device for securely receiving, 
     storing, and transferring data between compatible 
     cryptographic and communications equipment. The AN/PYQ-10(C) 
     Simple Key Loader (SKL) will contain the KOV-21 COMSEC card, 
     which is a Controlled Cryptographic Item (CCI). Cryptographic 
     functions are performed by an embedded KOV-21 card developed 
     by the NSA.
       i. The KIV-77 Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) Crypto 
     Applique provides cryptographic and time-of-day services for 
     a Combined Interrogator/Transponder (CIT) or individual 
     interrogator or transponder Mark XIIA (Mode 4 and Mode 5) IFF 
     system deployed to identify cooperative, friendly systems. 
     The KIV-77 contains embedded security, and when keys are 
     loaded is classified up to Secret.
       j. The KY-100M is a self-contained terminal including 
     COMSEC that provides for secure voice and data communications 
     in tactical airborne and ground environments. It is an 
     integral part of U.S. Forces' and Federal law enforcement 
     agencies' networks and provides half-duplex, narrowband, and 
     wideband communications. Its flexible interfaces increase 
     compatibility with a wide range of voice, data, radio, and 
     satellite equipment. The KY can support Tier I crypto.
       k. The AN/APR-39C(V)l/4 Radar Warning System detects radar-
     based rangefinders, target designators, and beam rider 
     systems targeting an aircraft or vehicle. The APR-39 is a 
     detection component of the suite of countermeasures designed 
     to increase survivability of current generation combat 
     aircraft and specialized special operations aircraft against 
     the threat posed by laser designated or guided weapons. This 
     item contains sensitive technology.
       l. The AN/AVR-2B Laser Warning Receiver detects laser 
     rangefinders, target designators, and beam rider laser-aided 
     systems targeting an aircraft or vehicle. The AVR-2B is a 
     detection component of the suite of countermeasures designed 
     to increase survivability of current generation combat 
     aircraft and specialized special operations aircraft against 
     the threat posed by laser designated or guided weapons. This 
     item contains sensitive technology.
       m. The AAR-57 Common Missile Warning System (CMWS) is an 
     integrated infrared (IR) countermeasures suite utilizing 
     ultraviolet (UV) sensors to display accurate threat location 
     and dispense countermeasures either automatically or under 
     pilot or crew control to defeat incoming missile threats.
       n. Embedded GPS/Inertial Navigation System INS (EGI) 
     provides GPS and INS capabilities to the aircraft. The EGI 
     wi11 include Selective Availability Anti-Spoofing Module 
     (SAASM) security modules to be used for secure GPS Precise 
     Positioning Service (PPS) if required. The Embedded GPS/INS 
     within the SAASM contains sensitive technology.
       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 Croatia 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 are authorized for release and export to Croatia.

                          ____________________