[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 103 (Tuesday, June 18, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4146-S4147]
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. 24-52,
concerning the Air Force's proposed Letter(s) of Offer and
Acceptance to the Government of the Netherlands for defense
articles and services estimated to cost $678 million. 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. 24-52
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 * $607 million.
Other $71 million.
Total $678 million.
(iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or
Services under Consideration for Purchase:
Major Defense Equipment (MDE):
One hundred seventy-four (174) Advanced Medium-Range Air-
to-Air Missiles-Extended Range (AMRAAM-ER).
Four (4) AMRAAM-C8 guidance sections.
Non-MDE: Also included is the following non-MDE: AMRAAM
containers, load trainers, control section spares and support
equipment; KGV-135A cryptographic devices; Common Munition
Built-in-Test (BIT)/Reprogramming Equipment (CMBRE); ADU-891
[[Page S4147]]
Adaptor Group Test Sets; integration and test support and
equipment; munitions support and support equipment; spare
parts, consumables, and accessories, and repair and return
support; classified software delivery and support; classified
and unclassified publications, and technical documentation;
personnel training and training equipment; studies and
surveys; Contractor Logistics Support (CLS); 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 (NE-D-YAJ).
(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: June 13, 2024.
*As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control
Act.
Policy Justification
The Netherlands--Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles-Extended
Range
The Government of the Netherlands has requested to buy one-
hundred seventy-four (174) Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air
Missiles-Extended Range (AMRAAM-ER) and four AMRAAM-C8
guidance sections. Also included is the following non-MDE:
AMRAAM containers, load trainers, control section spares and
support equipment; KGV-135A cryptographic devices; Common
Munition Built-in-Test (BIT)/Reprogramming Equipment(CMBRE);
ADU-891 Adaptor Group Test Sets; integration and test support
and equipment; munitions support and support equipment; spare
parts, consumables, and accessories, and repair and return
support; classified software delivery and support; classified
and unclassified publications, and technical documentation;
personnel training and training equipment; studies and
surveys; Contractor Logistics Support (CLS); 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 $678 million.
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 the Netherlands' capability
to meet current and future threats by providing advanced air
defense missiles as part of an upgraded Medium Range Air
Defense (MRAD) system and thereby enhancing its air defense
capability. This enhanced capability will protect the
Netherlands and local allied forces, and will significantly
improve the Netherlands' contribution to NATO Integrated Air
and Missile Defense. The Netherlands 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.
The principal contractor will be RTX Corporation, located
in Camden, AR. The purchaser typically requires 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 the Netherlands.
There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness
as a result of this proposed sale.
Transmittal No. 24-52
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 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM) is
a supersonic, air-launched, aerial intercept guided missile
featuring digital technology and microminiature solid-state
electronics. AMRAAM capabilities include look-down/shoot-
down, multiple launches against multiple targets, resistance
to electronic countermeasures, and interception of high- and
lowflying and maneuvering targets. This potential sale will
include AMRAAM guidance sections, control sections, warhead
spares, and containers.
2. The Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile-Extended
Range (AMRAAM-ER) is a surface-launched missile that utilizes
an AIM-120C-7 or C-8 seeker and warhead. It is joined with a
separate control section and rocket motor for surface launch,
making it different from the traditional air-launched AMRAAM.
This provides extended range and altitude as well as higher
speed and maneuverability.
3. The KGV-135A is a high-speed, general purpose encryptor/
decryptor module used for wideband data encryption.
4. The Common Munitions Built-In-Test (BIT)/Reprogramming
Equipment (CMBRE) is support equipment used to interface with
weapon systems to initiate and report BIT results, and upload
and download flight software. CMBRE supports multiple
munitions platforms with a range of applications that perform
preflight checks, periodic maintenance checks, loading of
Operational Flight Program (OFP) data, loading of munitions
mission planning data, loading of Global Positioning System
(GPS) cryptographic keys, and declassification of munitions
memory.
5. The ADU-891 Adapter Group Test Set provides the physical
and electrical interface between the CMBRE and the missile.
6. The highest level of classification of defense articles,
components, and services included in this potential sale is
SECRET.
7. 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.
8. 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 proposed sale is necessary in furtherance of the U.S.
foreign policy and national security objectives outlined in
the Policy Justification.
9. All defense articles and services listed in this
transmittal have been authorized for release and export to
the Government of the Netherlands.
____________________