[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 70 (Monday, April 28, 2025)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2602-S2603]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
ARMS SALES NOTIFICATION
Mr. RISCH. 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. James E. Risch,
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 TransmittaI No. 25-35,
concerning the Navy's proposed Letter(s) of Offer and
Acceptance to the Government of the Netherlands for defense
articles and services estimated to cost $2.19 billion. 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. 25-35
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 the Netherlands.
(ii) Total Estimated Value:
Major Defense Equipment $0.95 billion.
Other $ 1.24 billion.
Total $2.19 billion.
(iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or
Services under Consideration for Purchase:
Major Defense Equipment (MDE):
Up to one hundred sixty-three (163) Tomahawk Block V All Up
Rounds (AURs).
Twelve (12) Tomahawk Block IV AURs.
Up to ten (10) Tactical Tomahawk Weapons Control Systems
(TTWCS).
Up to two (2) Tomahawk Block IV telemetry missiles.
Non-Major Defense Equipment: The following non-MDE items
will also be included: satellite data link terminals (KIV-
18A); integrated secure broadcast systems (KSX-5);
communications security devices (KGV-135A); technical,
programmatic, engineering, and logistical support for the
Tomahawk AUR missiles, TTWCS, and Mission Distribution
Software; missile containers; software; hardware; training;
training devices; unscheduled missile maintenance; spares;
in-service support; communication equipment; operational
flight test; publications; engineering and technical
expertise to maintain the capability; non-recurring
engineering; transportation; and other related elements of
logistics and program support.
(iv) Military Department: Navy (NE-P-AGR, NE-P-AGS, NE-P-
AGT).
(v) Prior Related Cases, if any: NE-P-LHV.
(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: April 25, 2025.
As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control Act.
policy justification
The Netherlands--Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles
The Government of the Netherlands has requested to buy up
to one hundred sixty-three (163) Tomahawk Block V All Up
Rounds (AURs); twelve (12) Tomahawk Block IV AURs; up to ten
(10) Tactical Tomahawk Weapons Control Systems (TTWCS); and
up to two (2) Tomahawk Block IV telemetry missiles. The
following non-MDE items will also be included: satellite data
link terminals (KIV-18A); integrated secure broadcast systems
(KSX-5); communications security devices (KGV-135A);
technical, programmatic, engineering, and logistical support
for the Tomahawk AUR missiles, TTWCS, and Mission
Distribution Software; missile containers; software;
hardware; training; training devices; unscheduled missile
maintenance; spares; in-service support; communication
equipment; operational flight test; publications; engineering
and technical expertise to maintain the capability; non-
recurring engineering; transportation; and other related
elements of logistics and program support. The estimated
total cost is $2.19 billion.
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 the Netherland's capability
to meet current and future threats by utilizing long-range,
conventional surface-to-surface missiles with significant
standoff range that can neutralize growing threats. The
Netherlands 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 RTX Corporation, located
in Tucson, AZ. There are known offset requirements associated
with this sale. See the attached annex for further details.
Implementation of this proposed sale will not require the
assignment of any additional U.S. Government or contractor
representatives to the Netherlands.
There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness
as a result of this proposed sale.
transmittal no. 25-35
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 Tomahawk Block IV and V All Up Round (AUR) is a
Tomahawk cruise missile assembled in a canister for surface
launch. Tomahawk Block IV and V capabilities include
increased system flexibility; improved system response times;
improved lethality against an increased target set; improved
accuracy; improved anti-jam GPS receiver with Selective
Availability Anti-Spoofing Module (SAASM) capability;
enhanced availability due to a 15-year maintenance interval;
and two-way communications between missile and strike or
missile controllers via ultra high frequency (UHF) Satellite
Communications (SATCOM).
a. The two-way communication capability, provided by the
Satellite Data Link Terminal (SDLT), enables mission planners
and the strike or missile controllers to issue in-flight
missile retargeting commands and receive in-flight missile
status and information transmissions.
b. The Tactical Tomahawk Weapon Control System (TTWCS)
provides command and control, targeting, mission planning,
and distribution functions.
c. The Tomahawk Block IV telemetry missiles are test
missiles to be launched from Netherlands' air defense and
command frigates to certify the platform ahead of initial
operational capability.
d. The SDLT (KIV-18A) inside the Block IV Tomahawk is a UHF
SATCOM terminal used for data communications between the
missile and strike or missile controller via satellite.
e. The Integrated Secure Broadcast Systems (KSX-5)
satellite radio inside the Block
[[Page S2603]]
V TLAM communicates via the Advanced Communications
Architecture (ACA). It provides increased bandwidth,
capacity, reliability, and resiliency over the previous SDLT
radio. It is used for data communications between the missile
and strike or missile controller via satellite and network
service provider.
f. The communications security devices (KGV-135A) inside
the Block IV telemetry missiles provide telemetry data during
a test launch event.
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 the Netherlands 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 the Netherlands.
____________________