[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 188 (Wednesday, December 18, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Page S7173]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
ARMS SALES NOTIFICATION
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. 24-34,
concerning the Army's proposed Letter(s) of Offer and
Acceptance to the Government of Norway for defense articles
and services estimated to cost $130 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. 24-34
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 Norway.
(ii) Total Estimated Value:
Major Defense Equipment * $105 million.
Other $25 million.
Total $130 million.
(iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or
Services under Consideration for Purchase: Foreign Military
Sales (FMS) case NO-B-VRY was below congressional
notification threshold at $2.79 million (no MDE) and included
Precision Guidance Kit (PGK) cutaway models; fuze wrenches;
enhanced portable inductive artillery fuze setters; GPS
antennae and cables; improved Platform Integration Kits; PGK-
associated hardware for testing; labor support; training
aids; technical data and reports; U.S. Government technical
assistance; incidental travel; transportation; PGK spare
parts; equipment training; and related elements of logistics
and program support. The Government of Norway has requested
the case be amended to include eight thousand one (8,001)
M1156A1 PGK multi-option fuzes. This amendment will cause the
case to exceed the notification threshold, and thus
notification of the entire program is required. The above
notification requirements are combined as follows:
Major Defense Equipment (MDE): Eight thousand one (8,001)
M1156A1 PGK multi-option fuzes.
Non-Major Defense Equipment: The following non-MDE items
will also be included: PGK cutaway models; fuze wrenches;
enhanced portable inductive artillery fuze setters; GPS
antennae and cables; improved Platform Integration Kits; PGK-
associated hardware for testing; labor support; training
aids; technical data and reports; U.S. Government technical
assistance; incidental travel; transportation; PGK spare
parts; equipment training; and related elements of logistics
and program support.
(iv) Military Department: Army (NO-B-VRY).
(v) Prior Related Cases, if any: None.
(vi) Sales Commission, Fee, etc., Paid, Offered, or Agreed
to be Paid: None known.
(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: December 17,
2024.
*As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control
Act.
POLICY JUSTIFICATION
Norway--M1156A1 Precision Guidance Kits Fuzes
The Government of Norway has requested to buy eight
thousand one (8,001) 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 $2.79 million, included PGK cutaway
models; fuze wrenches; enhanced portable inductive artillery
fuze setters; GPS antennae and cables; improved Platform
Integration Kits; PGK-associated hardware for testing; labor
support; training aids; technical data and reports; U.S.
Government technical assistance; incidental travel;
transportation; PGK spare parts; equipment training; and
related elements of logistics and program support. This
notification is for eight thousand one (8,001) M1156A1 PGK
multi-option fuzes. The following non-MDE items will also be
included: PGK cutaway models; fuze wrenches; enhanced
portable inductive artillery fuze setters; GPS antennae and
cables; improved Platform Integration Kits; PGK-associated
hardware for testing; labor support; training aids; technical
data and reports; U.S. Government technical assistance;
incidental travel; transportation; PGK spare parts; equipment
training; and related elements of logistics and program
support. The estimated total program cost is $130 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 Norway's capability to meet
current and future threats and enhance its interoperability
with U.S. and other allied forces. This proposed sale will
enhance Norway's artillery and mid-range fire capability.
Norway 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. There are no known
offset agreements 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 Norway.
There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness
as a result of this proposed sale.
Transmittal No. 24-34
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 and eliminates the need for an anti-tamper coating
to protect critical KDP technology. It is also a height-of-
burst fuze, which 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 system effectiveness or be used in the
development of a system with similar or advanced
capabilities.
4. A determination has been made that Norway 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 Norway.
____________________