[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 150 (Wednesday, September 25, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6418-S6419]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
ARMS SALES NOTIFICATIONS
Mr. CARDIN. Madam 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. 24-89,
concerning the Navy's proposed Letter(s) of Offer and
Acceptance to the Government of Sweden for defense articles
and services estimated to cost $31.5 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,
Director.
Enclosures.
Transmittal No. 24-89
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 Sweden.
(ii) Total Estimated Value:
Major Defense Equipment * $27.5 million.
Other $4.0 million.
Total $31.5 million.
(iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or
Services under Consideration for Purchase: Foreign Military
Sales (FMS) case SW-P-LBK was implemented below congressional
notification threshold at $13.7 million ($10.9 million in
Major Defense Equipment (MDE)) and included forty-five (45)
AN/USQ-190 Multifunctional Information Distribution System
Joint Tactical Radio Systems (MIDS JTRS). The Government of
Sweden has requested the case be amended to include an
additional seventy-five (75) AN/USQ-190 MIDS JTRS. This
amendment will cause the case to exceed the congressional
notification threshold, and thus notification of the entire
program is required. The above notification requirements are
combined as follows:
Major Defense Equipment (MDE): One hundred twenty (120) AN/
USQ-190 MIDS JTRS.
Non-Major Defense Equipment: The following non-MDE items
will also be included: communications equipment; support
equipment; engineering and technical support and assistance;
non-warranty repair and return; training; and other related
elements of logistics and program support.
(iv) Military Department: Navy (SW-P-LBK).
(v) Prior Related Cases, if any: None.
(vi) Sales Commission, Fee, etc., Paid, Offered, or Agreed
to be Paid: None known at this time.
(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: September 20,
2024.
[[Page S6419]]
* As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control
Act.
POLICY JUSTIFICATION
Sweden--Multifunctional Information Distribution System Joint Tactical
Radio Systems
The Government of Sweden has requested to buy one hundred
twenty (120) AN/USQ-190 Multifunctional Information
Distribution System Joint Tactical Radio Systems (MIDS JTRS).
The following non-Major Defense Equipment (MDE) items will
also be included: communications equipment; support
equipment; engineering and technical support and assistance;
non-warranty repair and return; training; and other related
elements of logistics and program support. The estimated
total cost is $31.5 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 Sweden's capability to meet
current and future threats by modernizing its existing Link
16 capability to interoperate with U.S. forces and to
exchange secure, jam-resistant tactical data via Link 16.
Sweden will use the enhanced capability as a deterrent to
regional threats and strengthen its homeland defense. Sweden
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 is Data Link Solutions, located in
Cedar Rapids, IA. There are no known offset agreements
proposed in connection with this potential sale.
Implementation of this proposed sale will not require the
assignment of any additional U.S. Government or contractor
representatives to Sweden; however, U.S. Government
Engineering and Technical Services may be required on an
interim basis for training and technical assistance.
There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness
as a result of this proposed sale.
Transmittal No. 24-89
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 AN/USQ-190 Multifunctional Information Distribution
System Joint Tactical Radio Systems (MIDS JTRS) builds on
MIDS-Low Volume Terminal (LVT)'s capabilities with the
addition of Concurrent Multi-Netting (CMN) and Concurrent
Contention Receive (CCR) functions. CMN and CCR dramatically
expand the number of platforms and network-enabled systems
that can be reliably included in a Link 16 network. These
enhancements allow a single MIDS JTRS terminal to
simultaneously receive messages on up to four nets (compared
with only a single net in terminals without CMN and CCR)
within a single Link 16 time slot, allowing a user to
``hear'' messages from up to three additional sources at
once.
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 Sweden 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 Sweden.
____________________