[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 140 (Tuesday, September 10, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5914-S5915]
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)(l) of the Arms Export Control Act, as
amended, we are forwarding herewith Transmittal No. 24-61,
concerning the Army's proposed Letter(s) of Offer and
Acceptance to the Government of Denmark for defense articles
and services estimated to cost $121 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. 24-61
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 Denmark.
(ii) Total Estimated Value:
Major Defense Equipment * $105 million.
Other $16 million.
Total $121 million.
(iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or
Services under Consideration for Purchase:
[[Page S5915]]
Major Defense Equipment (MDE):
Three hundred thirty-nine (339) M982Al Excalibur tactical
projectiles
Non-MOE: Also included are Portable Electronic Fire Control
Systems (PEFCS); Improved Platform Integration Kits (iPIK);
Simple Key Loaders (SKLs); extractors; Surface Danger Zones
(SDZs); training for new equipment; spare parts; U.S.
Government technical assistance; technical data; repair and
return services; and other related elements of logistics and
program support.
(iv) Military Department: Army (DE-B-VME).
(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 20, 2024.
* As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control
Act.
POLICY JUSTIFICATION
Denmark--Excalibur Projectiles
The Government of Denmark has requested to buy three
hundred thirty-nine (339) M982Al Excalibur tactical
projectiles. Also included are Portable Electronic Fire
Control Systems (PEFCS); Improved Platform Integration Kits
(iPIK); Simple Key Loaders (SKLs); extractors; Surface Danger
Zones (SDZs); training for new equipment; spare parts; U.S.
Government technical assistance; technical data; repair and
return services; and other related elements of logistics and
program support. The estimated cost is $121 million.
This proposed sale will enhance the foreign policy and
national security objectives of the United States by helping
to improve the security of a NATO Ally that is a force for
political stability and economic progress in Europe.
The proposed sale will improve Denmark's capability to meet
current and future threats by providing precision capability
equipment and increasing first strike accuracy in its
brigades. Denmark 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 Tucson, Arizona. 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 Denmark.
There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness
as a result of this proposed sale.
Transmittal No. 24-61
Notice of Proposed Issuance of Letter of Offer Pursuant to
Section 36(b)(l) of the Arms Export Control Act
Annex Item No. vii
(vii) Sensitivity of Technology:
1. The M982A1 Excalibur 155 mm High Explosive projectile is
an all-up projectile with global positioning system (GPS)
aided precision guidance capability provided by either
Selective Availability Anti-Spoofing Module (SAASM) or M-
Code. The Excalibur provides the ability to accurately engage
targets at distances up to 25 miles. Excalibur is commonly
fired from U.S. Army and Marine Corps towed and self-
propelled howitzer systems, including the M777 and M109.
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 Denmark 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 Denmark.
____________________