[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 140 (Tuesday, September 10, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5915-S5916]
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. 24-77,
concerning the Army's proposed Letter(s) of Offer and
Acceptance to the Government of Denmark for defense articles
and services estimated to cost $85 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.)
Enclosure.
TRANSMITTAL NO. 24-77
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* $65 million.
Other $20 million.
Total $85 million.
(iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or
Services under Consideration for Purchase:
Major Defense Equipment (MDE):
Five thousand eight hundred thirty-two (5,832) M1156
Precision Guidance Kits (PGK)
Non-Major Defense Equipment: The following non-MDE items
will also be included: ancillary items; compatibility
testing; firing tables; technical assistance; technical data;
new equipment training; and other related elements of
logistics and program support.
(iv) Military Department: Army (DE-B-VMG).
(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 15, 2024.
*As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export
Control Act.
POLICY JUSTIFICATION
Denmark--Precision Guidance Kits
The Government of Denmark has requested to buy five
thousand eight hundred thirty-two (5,832) M1156 Precision
Guidance Kits (PGK). Also included are ancillary items;
compatibility testing; firing tables; technical assistance;
technical data; new equipment training; and other related
elements of logistics and program support. The estimated
total cost is $85 million.
This proposed sale will support the foreign policy goals
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 Denmark's capability to meet
current and future threats by providing precision capability
equipment and will increase 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 Northrop Grumman, located
in Minneapolis, MN. 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. 24-77
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 M1156A1 Precision Guidance Kit (PGK) is a cannon
artillery fuze which uses the Global Positioning System (GPS)
to increase the delivery accuracy of standard 155mm high
explosive ammunition. The NA37 M1156A1 includes M-code
capability. It is also a Height of Burst (HOB) fuze, which
uses a proximity sensor to cause the round to burst in the
air over the enemy, increasing lethality against the target.
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
development of a system with similar or advanced
capabilities.
[[Page S5916]]
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 the 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.
____________________