[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.
____________________