[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 100 (Thursday, June 13, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4077-S4078]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
ARMS SALES NOTIFICATIONS
Mr. CARDIN. 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 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. 24-49, concerning
the Air Force's proposed Letter(s) of Offer and Acceptance to
the Government of Norway for defense articles and services
estimated to cost $1.94 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. 24-49
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 Norway.
(ii) Total Estimated Value:
Major Defense Equipment * $0.92 billion.
Other $1.02 billion.
Total $1.94 billion.
(iii) Major Defense Equipment (MDE):
Three hundred (300) AIM-120C-8 Advanced Medium-Range Air-
to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM).
Twenty (20) AIM-120C-8 AMRAAM guidance sections.
Non-MDE: Also included are AMRAAM containers and support
equipment; spare parts, consumables, accessories, and repair
and return support; weapons software, support equipment, and
classified software delivery and support; transportation
support; classified publications and technical documentation;
training; 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: Air Force (NO-D-YAH).
(v) Prior Related Cases, if any: NO-D-YAE.
(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: June 11, 2024.
* As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control
Act.
POLICY JUSTIFICATION
Norway--AIM-120C-8 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles
The Government of Norway has requested to buy three hundred
(300) AIM-120C-8 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles
(AMRAAM) and twenty (20) AIM-120C-8 AMRAAM guidance sections.
Also included are AMRAAM containers and support equipment;
spare parts, consumables, accessories, and repair and return
support; weapons software, support equipment, and classified
software delivery and support, transportation support;
classified publications and technical documentation;
training; 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 $1.94 billion.
This proposed sale will support the foreign policy goals
and national security objectives of the United States by
improving the security of a North Atlantic Treaty
Organization (NATO) Ally that is a force for political
stability and economic progress in Europe.
The proposed sale will improve Norway's capability to meet
current and future threats by supplementing and replacing its
AIM-120B AMRAAMs with the latest version of the AIM-120C.
Norway already has AMRAAMs and F-35As in its inventory and
will have no difficulty absorbing these articles into its
armed forces The newly acquired missiles will be used for
ground-based air defense in the National Advanced Surface-to-
Air Missile System (NASAMS) but may be subject to dual use
with the F-35A.
The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not
alter the basic military balance in the region.
The principal contractor will be RTX Corporation, located
in Tucson, AZ. The purchaser typically requests offsets. Any
offset agreement will be defined in negotiations between the
purchaser and the contractor.
Implementation of this proposed sale will not require the
assignment of any additional U.S. Government or contractor
representatives to Norway.
There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness
as a result of this proposed sale.
Transmittal No 24-49
Notice of Proposed Issuance of Letter of Offer Pursuant to
Section 36(b)(1) of the Arms Export Control Act
Annex Item No. vii
[[Page S4078]]
(vii) Sensitivity of Technology:
1. The AIM-120C-8 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile
(AMRAAM) is a supersonic, air or surface-launched aerial
intercept guided missile featuring digital technology and
microminiature solid-state electronics. AMRAAM capabilities
include look-down and shoot-down, multiple launches against
multiple targets, resistance to electronic countermeasures,
and interception of high and low-flying and maneuvering
targets. This potential sale will include AMRAAM guidance
sections, control sections, warhead spares, and containers.
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
proposed 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.
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