[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 140 (Tuesday, September 10, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Page 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. 24-67, 
     concerning the Army's proposed Letter(s) of Offer and 
     Acceptance to the Government of Finland for defense articles 
     and services estimated to cost $70 million. We will issue a 
     news release to notify the public of this proposed sale upon 
     delivery of this letter to your office.
           Sincerely,
                                                Michael F. Miller,
                                                  Acting Director.
       Enclosures.


                         TRANSMITTAL NO. 24-67

     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 Finland.
       (ii) Total Estimated Value:
       Major Defense Equipment* $58 million.
       Other $12 million.
       Total $70 million.
       (iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or 
     Services under Consideration for Purchase: Foreign Military 
     Sales (FMS) case FI-B-VBG was below congressional 
     notification threshold at $.97 million (no Major Defense 
     Equipment (MDE)) and included technical data/reports; U.S. 
     Government technical assistance; incidental travel; 
     transportation; Precision Guidance Kit (PGK) spare parts; 
     equipment training; and related elements of logistics and 
     program support. The Government of Finland has requested the 
     case be amended to include five thousand five hundred (5,500) 
     M1156A1 PGK multi-option fuzes. This amendment will push the 
     current case above the MDE notification threshold and thus 
     requires notification of the entire case.
       Major Defense Equipment (MDE): Five thousand five hundred 
     (5,500) M1156A1 PGK multi-option fuzes
       Non-Major Defense Equipment: The following non-MDE items 
     will also be included: technical data/reports; U.S. 
     Government technical assistance; incidental travel; 
     transportation; PGK spare parts; equipment training; 
     ancillary items; compatibility testing; firing tables; 
     integration kits, antennas; key loaders; precision-guided 
     munition simulator; technical assistance; and other related 
     elements of logistics and program support.
       (iv) Military Department: Army (FI-B-VBG)
       (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 19, 2024
       *As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export 
     Control Act.


                          POLICY JUSTIFICATION

                Finland--M1156A1 Precision Guidance Kits

       The Government of Fin1and has requested to buy five 
     thousand five hundred (5,500) M1156A1 Precision Guidance Kit 
     (PGK) multi-option fuzes that will be added to a previously-
     implemented case whose value was under the congressional 
     notification threshold. The original Foreign Military Sales 
     (FMS) case, valued at $.97 million, included technical data/
     reports; U.S. Government technical assistance; incidental 
     travel; transportation; PGK spare parts; equipment training; 
     and related elements of logistics and program support. This 
     notification includes the original aforementioned items and 
     adds five thousand five hundred (5,500) M1156A1 PGK multi-
     option fuzes. The following non-MDE items will also be 
     included: ancillary items; compatibility testing; firing 
     tables; integration kits; antennas; key loaders; precision-
     guided munition simulator; technical assistance; technical 
     data/reports; and other related elements of logistics and 
     program support. The estimated total program cost is $70 
     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 an important 
     force for political stability and economic progress in 
     Europe.
       The proposed sale will improve Finland's capability to meet 
     current and future threats and enhance its interoperability 
     with U.S. and other allied forces. This proposed sale will 
     enhance Finland's artillery and mid-range fire capability. 
     Finland 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 Northrop Grumman 
     Innovation Systems, located in Dulles, VA. 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 Finland.
       There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness 
     as a result of this proposed sale.


                         TRANSMITTAL NO. 24-67

     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 to 
     increase the delivery accuracy of standard 155 mm high 
     explosive ammunition. The NA37 M1156A1 includes M-code 
     capability. It is also a height-of-burst fuze in that it uses 
     a proximity sensor to cause the round to burst in the air 
     over the enemy, increasing lethality.
       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 Finland 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 Finland.

                          ____________________