[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 75 (Wednesday, May 1, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3124-S3125]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
ARMS SALES NOTIFICATIONS
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 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. 24-35,
concerning the Navy's proposed Letter(s) of Offer and
Acceptance to the Government of the Netherlands for defense
articles and services estimated to cost $700 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. 24-35
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 the Netherlands.
(ii) Total Estimated Value:
Major Defense Equipment* $575 million.
Other $125 million.
Total $700 million.
(iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or
Services under Consideration for Purchase:
Major Defense Equipment (MDE):
Two hundred sixty-five (265) AGM-88G Advanced Anti-
Radiation Guided Missiles--Extended Range (AARGM-ER) All Up
Rounds (AUR) (includes fifteen (15) Fly-to-Buy Rounds).
Eight (8) AGM-88G AARGM-ER Guidance Sections (spares).
Eight (8) AGM-88G AARGM-ER Control Sections (spares).
Non-MDE: Also included are Dummy Air Training Missiles
(DATM); missile containers; software; training; support
equipment; spare and repair parts; embedded GPS receiver, M-
Code; publications and technical documentation;
transportation; U.S. Government and contractor engineering;
technical and logistical support services; and other related
elements of logistics and program support.
(iv) Military Department: Navy (NE-P-AGP).
(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: April 24, 2024.
* As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control
Act.
policy justification
The Netherlands--Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missiles--Extended
Range
The Government of the Netherlands has requested to buy two
hundred sixty-five (265) AGM-88G Advanced Anti-Radiation
Guided Missiles--Extended Range (AARGM-ER) All Up Rounds
(AUR) (includes fifteen (15) Fly-to-Buy Rounds); eight (8)
AGM-88G AARGM-ER Guidance Sections (spares); and eight (8)
AGM-88G AARGM-ER Control Sections (spares). Also included are
Dummy Air Training Missiles (DATM), missile containers;
software; training; support equipment; spare and repair
parts; embedded GPS receiver, M-Code; publications and
technical documentation; transportation; U.S. Government and
contractor engineering; technical and logistical support
services; and other related elements of logistics and program
support. The estimated total cost is $700 million.
This proposed sale will support the foreign policy 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 the Netherlands' capability
to meet current and future threats by suppressing and
destroying land or sea-land based radar emitters associated
with enemy air defenses. This capability denies the adversary
the use of its air defense systems, thereby improving the
survivability of the Netherlands tactical aircraft. The
Netherlands will have no difficulty absorbing this equipment
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 Northrop Grumman Systems
located in Falls Church, VA. There are no known offset
agreements proposed in connection with this potential sale.
Implementation of this proposed sale will require multiple
trips by ten U.S. Government representatives and the
assignment of four contractor representatives to the
Netherlands 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.
There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness
as a result of this proposed sale.
transmittal no. 24-35
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 AGM-88G Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile--
Extended Range (AARGM-
[[Page S3125]]
ER) is a medium-range air-to-ground missile employed for
Suppression and/or Destruction of Enemy Air Defenses. The
AGM-88G AARGM-ER system is an upgrade to the AGM-88E AARGM,
which is an upgrade and modification to the AGM-88B High-
Speed Anti-Radiation Missile (HARM) system. AARGM baseline
capabilities include an expanded target set, countershutdown
capability, advanced signals processing for improved
detection and locating, geographic specificity providing
aircrew the opportunity to define missile-impact zones and
impact-avoidance zones, and a weapon impact-assessment
broadcast capability providing for battle damage assessment
cueing. The AARGM-ER incorporates hardware and software
modifications to improve upon AGM-88E AARGM capabilities to
extend the range, increase survivability, and enhance
effectiveness against future threats.
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 the Netherlands 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 the Netherlands.
____________________