[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 129 (Thursday, August 6, 2026)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4505-S4506]
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:
U.S. Department of State,
Washington, DC.
congressional notification transmittal letter
Please find enclosed the following notification from the
Department of State.
Department Notification Number: RSAT 26-82.
Pursuant to the reporting requirements of Section 36(b)(1)
of the Arms Export Control Act (AECA), as amended, we are
forwarding Transmittal No. 26-82 concerning Army's proposed
Letter(s) of Offer and Acceptance to the Government of Norway
for defense articles and services estimated to cost $270
million. We will issue a news release to notify the public of
this proposed sale upon delivery of this letter to your
office.
Recipients:
Speaker of the House of Representatives
House Committee on Foreign Affairs
Senate Committee on Foreign Relations
Sincerely,
Christopher Bergaust,
Senior Bureau Official,
Bureau of Legislative Affairs.
transmittal no. 26-82
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
[[Page S4506]]
(ii) Total Estimated Value:
Major Defense Equipment* $0.
Other $270 million.
Total $270 million.
(iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or
Services under Consideration for Purchase: Foreign Military
Sales (FMS) case NO-B-VSJ was below the congressional
notification threshold at $99.99 million ($0 in major defense
equipment (MDE)) and included 155mm High Explosive (HE) M795
Projectiles. The Government of Norway has requested that the
case be amended to include additional 155mm HE M795
Projectiles; technical assistance; technical documentation;
U.S. Government and contractor engineering, technical, and
logistics support services; and other related elements of
logistics and program support. 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:
MDE: None.
Non-MDE: The following non-MDE items will be included:
155mm HE M795 Projectiles; technical assistance; technical
documentation; U.S. Government and contractor engineering,
technical, and logistics support services; and other related
elements of logistics and program support.
(iv) Military Department: Army (NO-B-VSJ).
(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: None.
(viii) Date Report Delivered to Congress: August 5, 2026.
* As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export
Control Act.
policy justification
Norway--155mm High Explosive (HE) M795 Projectile
The Government of Norway has requested to buy additional
155mm High Explosive (HE) M795 Projectiles; technical
assistance; technical documentation; U.S. Government and
contractor engineering, technical, and logistics support
services; and other related elements of logistics and program
support 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 $99.99 million ($0 in major defense equipment
(MDE)), included 155mm HE M795 Projectiles. This notification
is for a combined total of the following non-MDE items: 155mm
HE M795 Projectiles; technical assistance; technical
documentation; U.S. Government and contractor engineering,
technical, and logistics support services; and other related
elements of logistics and program support. The estimated
total cost is $270 million.
This proposed sale will support the foreign policy 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 Norway's capability to meet
current and future threats and increase its interoperability
with the 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 contractors will be American Ordinance,
located in Middletown, IA; and General Dynamics, located in
Camden, AR. While this purchaser typically requests offsets,
there is currently no known offset agreement regarding the
items being added to this case. 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 Norway.
There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness
as a result of this proposed sale.
____________________