[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 140 (Tuesday, September 10, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5913-S5914]
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.

[[Page S5914]]

     24-95, concerning the Army's proposed Letter(s) of Offer and 
     Acceptance to the Government of Croatia for defense services 
     estimated to cost $390 million. We will issue a news release 
     to notify the public of this proposed sale upon delivery of 
     this letter to your office.
           Sincerely,
                                                  J. Aaron Harding
                         (For Michael F. Miller, Acting Director).
       Enclosures.


                         Transmittal No. 24-95

     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 Croatia.
       (ii) Total Estimated Value:
       Major Defense Equipment * $340 million.
       Other $50 million.
       Total $390 million.
       Funding Source: National Funds.
       (iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or 
     Services under Consideration for Purchase:
       Major Defense Equipment (MDE):
       Eight (8) M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems 
     (HIMARS).
       Twenty-four (24) M30A2 Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System 
     (GMLRS) Alternative Warhead (AW) Pods with Insensitive 
     Munitions Propulsion System (IMPS).
       Twenty-four (24) M31A2 GMLRS-Unitary High Explosive (HE) 
     Pods with IMPS.
       Two (2) M1152 High Mobility Multi-purpose Wheeled Vehicles 
     (HMMWV) with Next Generation SECM (NG SECM).
       Eight (8) M1152 HMMWVs with Command and Control 
     Communication's Shelters.
       Thirty-six (36) Defense Advanced OPS Receivers (DAGR).
       Non-Major Defense Equipment: The following non-MDE items 
     will also be included: Low Cost Reduced Range Practice Rocket 
     (LCRRPR) pods; AN/PRC-117G radios; AN/PRC-158 radios; AN/PRC-
     160 radios; Common Fire Control Systems (CFCS); International 
     Field Artillery Tactical Data Systems (IFATDS); software; 
     training; resupply vehicles; technical assistance; and other 
     related elements of program and logistic support.
       (iv) Military Department: Army (HR-B-UCK).
       (v) Prior Related Cases, if any: None.
       (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: August 30, 2024.
       *As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control 
     Act.


                          POLICY JUSTIFICATION

          Croatia--M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems

       The Government of Croatia has requested to buy eight (8) 
     M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS); twenty-
     four (24) M30A2 Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) 
     Alternative Warhead (AW) Pods with Insensitive Munitions 
     Propulsion System (IMPS); twenty-four (24) M31A2 GMLRS-
     Unitary High Explosive (HE) Pods with IMPS; two (2) Ml152 
     High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicles (HMMWV) with Next 
     Generation SECM (NG SECM); eight (8) Ml152 HMMWVs with 
     Command and Control Communications Shelters; and thirty-six 
     (36) Defense Advanced OPS Receivers (DAGR). The following 
     non-MDE items will also be included: Low Cost Reduced Range 
     Practice Rocket (LCRRPR) pods; AN/PRC-117G radios; AN/PRC-158 
     radios; AN/PRC-160 radios; Common Fire Control Systems 
     (CFCS); International Field Artillery Tactical Data Systems 
     (IFATDS); software; training; resupply vehicles; technical 
     assistance; and other related elements of program and 
     logistic support. The estimated total program cost is $390 
     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 proposed sale of this equipment and support will not 
     alter the basic military balance in the region.
       The principal contractor will be Lockheed Martin, located 
     in Grand Prairie, TX. There are no known offset agreements in 
     connection with this potential sale.
       Implementation of this proposed sale will require the 
     assignment of four U.S. Government and four contractor 
     representatives to travel to Croatia for program management 
     reviews to support the program. Travel is expected to occur 
     approximately twice per year as needed to support equipment 
     fielding and training.
       There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness 
     as a result of this proposed sale.


                         Transmittal No. 24-95

     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 M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) 
     is a C-130 transportable wheeled launcher mounted on a 5-ton 
     Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles truck chassis. HIMARS is 
     the modem Army-fielded version of the Multiple Launch Rocket 
     System (MLRS) M270 launcher, and can fire all the MLRS Family 
     of Munitions (FOM) including Guided Multiple Launch Rocket 
     System (GMLRS) variants and the Army Tactical Missile System 
     (ATACMS). Utilizing the MLRS FOM, the HIMARS can engage 
     targets between 15 and 300 kilometers with Global Positioning 
     System (GPS)-aided precision accuracy.
       2. The GMLRS M3IA2 Unitary is the Army's primary munition 
     for units fielding the Ml42 HlMARS and M270Al Multiple 
     Launcher Rocket System (MLRS) launchers. The M3l Unitary is a 
     solid propellant artillery rocket that uses Global 
     Positioning System/Pre,cise Positioning Service (GPS/PPS)-
     aided inertial guidance provided by Selective Availability 
     Anti-Spoofing Module (SAASM) or M-Code. It accurately and 
     quickly delivers a single high-explosive blast fragmentation 
     warhead to targets at ranges from 15-70 kilometers. The 
     rockets are fired from a launch pod container that also 
     serves as the storage and transportation container for the 
     rockets. Each rocket pod holds six (6) total rockets.
       3. The M30A2 GMLRS Alternative Warhead shares a greater 
     than ninety percent commonality with the M3IA1 Unitary. The 
     primary difference between the, GMLRS-U and GMLRS-AW is the 
     replacement of the Unitary's high explosive warhead with a 
     200-pound fragmentation warhead of pre-formed tungsten 
     penetrators which are optimized for effectiveness against 
     large area and imprecisely located targets. The munitions 
     otherwise share a common motor, GPS/PPS-aided inertial 
     guidance and control system, fusing mechanism, multi-option 
     height of burst capability, and effective range of 15-70 
     kilometers.
       4. The highest level of classification of defense articles, 
     components, and services included in this potential sale is 
     SECRET.
       5. 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 systm with similar or advanced capabilities.
       6. A determination has been made that Croatia can provide 
     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.
       7. All defense articles and services listed in this 
     transmittal are authorized for release and export to the 
     Government of Croatia.

                          ____________________