[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 145 (Tuesday, September 15, 2026)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4724-S4726]
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 26-83.
Pursuant to the reporting requirements of Section 36(b)(1)
of the Arms Export Control Act (AECA), as amended, we are
forwarding Transmittal No. 26-83 concerning the Army's
proposed Letter(s) of Offer and Acceptance to the Government
of Norway for defense articles and services estimated to cost
$2.3 Billion. 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,
Kaitlyn Wolfe,
Senior Bureau Official,
Bureau of Legislative Affairs.
Transmittal No. 26-83
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 * $1.2 billion.
Other $1.1 billion.
Total $2.3 billion.
(iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or
Services under Consideration for Purchase:
Major Defense Equipment (MDE):
Twenty-one (21) UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters.
Forty-six (46) T700-GE-701D engines.
Twenty-five (25) AN/AAR-57 Common Missile Warning Systems.
Twenty-five (25) Common Infrared Countermeasure.
[[Page S4725]]
Twenty-five (25) AN/APR-39E(V)2 Radar Warning Receiver.
Fifty (50) EAGLE-M+429 Embedded Global Positioning Systems/
Inertial Navigation Systems.
One hundred (100) AN/ARC-23 1 ART-1987 Very High Frequency
(VHF)/Ultra High Frequency/line-of-sight satellite
communication radios.
Eighteen (18) M240H machine guns.
Non-MDE: The following non-MDE items will also be included:
AN/AVR-2B(V) Laser Warning System; APX-128 identification
friend or foe (IFF) transponder; AN/PYQ-10 Simple Key Loader;
KIV-79 common IFF crypto applique computers; AN/ARN-147(V)
VHF omni-directional range/instrument landing system receiver
radio; AN/ARN-149(V) low frequency/automatic direction finder
radio receiver; AN/ARN-153 tactical air navigation system
receiver transmitter; RACC-209 radar altimeter; AN/ARC-201D
radio; AN/ARC-210 Gen 6 radio; AN/PRC-167 radio; AN/ARC-220
high-frequency radio; AN/PRC-160 with automatic link
establishment capabilities; EBC 406HM emergency locator
transmitter; Advanced Sight Display Computer Heads-Up Display
system; RDR-7000 color weather radar; MX-10D electro-optical/
infrared with laser designator/illuminator/pointer/range
finder/cabin viewer; engine inlet barrier filters; ballistic
armor protection systems; internal auxiliary fuel tank
systems; fast rope insertion extraction systems; airframe
mounted rescue hoists; rescue hoist equipment sets; dual
patient litter system sets; Martin-Baker palletized crew
chief/gunner seats with crashworthy floor structural
modifications; external stores support system with
crashworthy external fuel system tanks; country unique
instrument panel; cockpit multifunction display; degraded
visual environment system; LINK-16 (small tactical terminal
KOR-24A); Traffic Alert Collision Avoidance System, Type I;
direction finder DF-935; environmental control system; snow
skis; Bambi Bucket; helicopter terrain awareness system; very
important person kit; upturned exhaust system; M-240 (MAG-58)
machine gun; M-134 machine gun; M3M (GAU-21) machine gun;
external gun mount system; provisions for litters; litter
straps; medical trauma bag; 120V AC power; auxiliary bleed
air cabin heater; encrypted aircraft wireless intercom
system; 60KVA aircraft generator; winterization kit;
universal software loader verifier; black hawk aircrew
trainer; maintenance and aircrew training devices/software;
helmets; transportation; organizational equipment; spare and
repair parts; support equipment; tools and test equipment;
technical data and publications; personnel training and
training equipment; U.S. Government and contractor
engineering, technical, and logistics support services, and
other related elements of program and logistics support.
(iv) Military Department: Army (NO-B-VSL).
(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: August 21, 2026.
\*\ As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control
Act.
POLICY JUSTIFICATION
Norway--UH-60M Black Hawk Helicopters
The Government of Norway has requested to buy twenty-one
(21) UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters; forty-six (46) T700-GE-
701D engines; twenty-five (25) AN/AAR-57 Common Missile
Warning Systems; twenty-five (25) Common Infrared
Countermeasure; twenty-five (25) AN/APR-39E(V)2 Radar Warning
Receiver; fifty (50) EAGLE-M+429 Embedded Global Positioning
Systems/Inertial Navigation Systems; one hundred (100) AN/
ARC-231A RT-1987 Very High Frequency (VHF)/Ultra High
Frequency/line-of-sight satellite communication radios; and
eighteen (18) M240H machine guns. The following non-MDE items
will also be included: AN/AVR-2B(V) Laser Warning System;
APX-128 identification friend or foe (IFF) transponder; AN/
PYQ-10 Simple Key Loader; KIV-79 common IFF crypto applique
computers; AN/ARN-147(V) VHF omni-directional range/
instrument landing system receiver radio; AN/ARN-149(V) low
frequency/automatic direction finder radio receiver; AN/ARN-
153 tactical air navigation system receiver transmitter;
RACC-209 radar altimeter; AN/ARC-201D radio; AN/ARC-210 Gen 6
radio; AN/PRC-167 radio; AN/ARC-220 high-frequency radio; AN/
PRC-160 with automatic link establishment capabilities; EBC
406HM emergency locator transmitter; Advanced Sight Display
Computer Heads-Up Display system; RDR-7000 color weather
radar; MX-10D electro-optical/infrared with laser designator/
illuminator/pointer/range finder/cabin viewer; engine inlet
barrier filters; ballistic armor protection systems; internal
auxiliary fuel tank systems; fast rope insertion extraction
systems; airframe mounted rescue hoists; rescue hoist
equipment sets; dual patient litter system sets; Martin-Baker
palletized crew chief/gunner seats with crashworthy floor
structural modifications; external stores support system with
crashworthy external fuel system tanks; country unique
instrument panel; cockpit multi-function display; degraded
visual environment system; LINK-16 (small tactical terminal
KOR-24A); Traffic Alert Collision Avoidance System, Type I;
direction finder DF-935; environmental control system; snow
skis; Bambi Bucket; helicopter terrain awareness system; very
important person kit; upturned exhaust system; M-240 (MAG-58)
machine gun; M-134 machine gun; M3M (GAU-21) machine gun;
external gun mount system; provisions for litters; litter
straps; medical trauma bag; 120V AC power; auxiliary bleed
air cabin heater; encrypted aircraft wireless intercom
system; 60KVA aircraft generator; winterization kit;
universal software loader verifier; black hawk aircrew
trainer; maintenance and aircrew training devices/software;
helmets; transportation; organizational equipment; spare and
repair parts; support equipment; tools and test equipment;
technical data and publications; personnel training and
training equipment; U.S. Government and contractor
engineering, technical, and logistics support services, and
other related elements of program and logistics support. The
total estimated cost is $2.3 billion.
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 enhance its interoperability
with U.S. and other allied forces. It will also upgrade
Norway's rotary wing capability, allowing Norwegian Army and
Special Operations Forces to independently conduct operations
while taking advantage of a common platform across the
fleet. Norway 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 Lockheed Martin, Sikorsky,
located in Stratford, CT. At this time, the U.S. Government
is not aware of any offset agreement proposed in connection
with this potential sale. Any offset agreement will be
defined in negotiations between the purchaser and the
contractor.
Implementation of this proposed sale will require
approximately fifteen (15) U.S. Government and fifteen (15)
contractor representatives to travel to Norway for an
extended period for equipment de-processing/fielding, system
checkout, training, and technical and logistics support.
There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness
as a result of this proposed sale.
Transmittal No. 26-83
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 UH-60M aircraft is a medium-lift four-bladed
helicopter with two (2) T-701D engines. The aircraft has four
(4) multifunction displays (MFDs), which provide access to
aircraft systems, flight, mission, and communication
management systems. The instrumentation panel includes four
(4) MFDs, two (2) pilot and copilot flight director panels,
and two (2) data concentrator units. The navigation system
will have Embedded Global Preposition System (GPS)/Inertial
Navigation System (INS) (EGI), and two (2) advanced flight
control computer systems, which provide four-axis aircraft
control.
a. The AN/ARC-201D Very High Frequency (VHF)-Frequency
Modulation Single Channel Ground and Airborne Radio System
(SINCGARS) airborne radio is a reliable, field proven voice
and data communication system used with the UH-60M.
b. The AN/ARC-231A is a software-definable radio for
military aircraft that provides two way, multi-mode voice and
data communications over a 30 Hz to 512 MHz frequency range.
No designated exportable/non-Communications Security (COMSEC)
capable version planned. Support both line-of-sight Ultra-
High Frequency (UHF) and VHF bands with AM, FM and Satellite
Communications (SATCOM) capabilities including embedded
frequency agile modes, Electronic Counter-Countermeasures
(ECCM) antijam waveforms including HAVE QUICK radio and
SINCGARS, Demand Assigned Multiple Access, and Integrated
Waveform. It provides simultaneous, real-time participation
in tactical voice and data communications networks. RT-1987
will provide National Security Agency (NSA) tactical secure
voice cryptographic interoperability specification 3.1.1
crypto modernization compliance. Operator selectable Air
Traffic Control channel spacing of 5, 8.33, 12.5, and 25kHz
steps, and other data link and secure communications
features, providing battlefield interoperability.
c. The AN/ARC-220 High Frequency (HF) Airborne
Communication System provides rotary-wing aircraft, with
advanced voice and data capabilities for short- and long-
distance communications. The system is software programmable
with a frequency range of 2.0000-29.9999 MHz, in 100-Hz steps
and provides for providing embedded automatic link
establishment (ALE), serial tone data modem, text messaging,
GPS position reporting, and anti-jam ECCM functions.
d. The AN/ARC-210 is a family of radios for military
aircraft that provides two-way, multimode voice and data
communications in the 30 to 512+ MHz frequency range. It
covers both VHF and UHF bands with AM, FM, and SATCOM
capabilities. The ARC-210 radio also includes embedded anti-
jam waveforms, including HQ and SINCGARS, and
[[Page S4726]]
other data link and secure communications features providing
total battlefield interoperability and high-performance
capabilities in the transfer of data, voice, and imagery. The
software-programmable encryption is under the NSA
cryptographic modernization initiative.
e. The AN/PRC-160 radio is a tactical wideband HF/VHF
transceiver providing Type 1 encryption and Selective
Availability Anti-Spoofing Module (SAASM) GPS location and
timing capabilities. The system provides continuous frequency
coverage from 1.5 to 60 MHz. The manpack version provides 20
Watts HF and 10 Watts VHF transmit power from a single
battery. The system transmits in bandwidths from 3 kHz to 24
kHz with data rates up to 120 Kbps. The software programmable
system can operate using NATO standard 2G, 3G, and 4G ALE
waveforms and is compatible with AM single sideband and CW
modes.
f. The AN/PRC-167 is a multi-domain multi-channel tactical
narrow and wide-band dual transceiver radio system providing
Type 1 encryption and SAASM GPS location and timing
capabilities. The system can provide wide-band high-assurance
self-healing networking capabilities and mobile user
objective system over-the-horizon capabilities. Each
transceiver is software programmable operating in the 30-512
MHz and 764-2600 MHz frequency ranges. The system can operate
using the following waveforms: narrowband analog/PCM AM/FM,
continuously variable slope delta amplitude shift keying and
frequency shift keying cipher text, wideband 2400 bps and
LPC/2400 mixed excitation linear prediction--SATCOM.
g. The AN/APX-128, Identification Friend or Foe (IFF)
Transponder, is a space diversity transponder and is
installed on various military platforms. When installed in
conjunction with platform antennas and the Remote-Control
Unit (or other appropriate control unit), the transponder
provides identification, altitude and surveillance reporting
in response to interrogations from airborne, ground-based
and/or surface interrogators.
h. The AN/PYQ-10 Simple Key Loader (SKL) is a ruggedized,
portable, hand-held fill device, for securely receiving,
storing, and transferring data between compatible
cryptographic and communications equipment. The AN/PYQ-10 SKL
will contain the KOV-21 COMSEC card. The cryptographic
functions are performed by an embedded KOV-21 card developed
by the NSA.
i. The KIV-79 IFF crypto applique provides cryptographic
and time-of-day services for a combined interrogator/
transponder or individual interrogator or transponder Mark
XIIA (Mode 4 and Mode 5) IFF system deployed to identify
cooperative, friendly systems.
j. The AN/AVR-2B Laser Warning Receiver detects laser
rangefinders, target designators and beam rider laser-aided
systems targeting an aircraft or vehicle. The AVR-2B is a
detection component of the suite of countermeasures designed
to increase survivability of current generation combat
aircraft and specialized special operations aircraft against
the threat posed by laser designated or guided weapons.
k. The AAR-57 Common Missile Warning System is an
integrated infrared countermeasures suite utilizing
ultraviolet sensors to display accurate threat location and
dispense decoys/countermeasures either automatically or under
pilot/crew control to defeat incoming missile threats.
l. The EAGLE M+429 INS EGI, contains sensitive technology
that provides GPS hardening when loaded with COMSEC keys.
m. The Common Infrared Countermeasure (CIRCM) is the next-
generation lightweight, laser-based, infrared countermeasure
system for rotary-wing, tilt rotor, and small fixedwing
aircraft across the DoW. CIRCM provides near spherical
coverage of the host platform to defeat infrared-seeking
threat missiles. CIRCM receives an angular bearing hand-off
from the Missile Warning System, employing a pointing and
tracking system that acquires and tracks the incoming
missile. CIRCM jams the missile by using modulated laser
energy, thus degrading the tracking capability of the missile
and causing it to miss the aircraft.
n. The AN/APR-39E(V)2 Radar Warning Receiver is a radar
threat detection system that passively detects, categorizes,
and prioritizes radio frequency (RF) threats to aircraft, and
then provides an audio/visual cue to aircrew. AN/APR-39E(V)2
provides a fully digital capability to enhance threat
discrimination in the millimeter wave band and increased
overall system performance against frequency-agile RF and
active electronically scanned array threat radars.
o. The KOR-24A Lightweight Airborne Recovery System with
Link 16 capability provides enhanced situational awareness
and personnel recovery support through participation in
secure tactical data link networks. The system enables the
transmission and reception of tactical data via Link 16 in
support of joint and coalition operations. The system
incorporates COMSEC and transmission security capabilities,
enabling encrypted and secure data exchange using U.S.
Government-approved cryptographic methods. Secure operation
requires the use of classified keying material and network
configuration parameters loaded via approved key loading
devices (e.g., AN/PYQ-10 SKL). The case includes associated
COMSEC equipment, including fill devices, cables, and
ancillary components required to support secure operations.
All COMSEC equipment, keying material, and network
participation will be provided, controlled, and managed in
accordance with U.S. Government security and releasability
policy.
p. The Embedded GPS/INS EGI provides GPS and INS
capabilities to the aircraft. The EGI will include SAASM
security for GPS precision positioning service, if required.
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 which
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 of the sensitive
technology being released as the U.S. Government. This
proposed sale is necessary in furtherance of the U.S. foreign
policy and national security objectives outlined in the
Policy Justification.
5. All defense articles, technical data, and services
listed in this transmittal have been authorized for release
and export to the Government of Norway.
____________________