ARMS SALES NOTIFICATION

On 2026-09-15, Senator James E. Risch (R-ID) delivered a floor speech titled "ARMS SALES NOTIFICATION" in the Senate.

ARMS SALES NOTIFICATION

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 145 (Tuesday, September 15, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 145 (Tuesday, September 15, 2026)] [Senate] [Pages S4730-S4731] 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 26-79. Pursuant to the reporting requirements of Section 36(b)(1) of the Arms Export Control Act (AECA), as amended, we are forwarding Transmittal No. 26-79 concerning the Army's proposed Letter(s) of Offer and Acceptance to the Government of Argentina for defense articles and services estimated to cost $140 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, Katherine Bowles, Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Legislative Affairs. Transmittal No. RSAT 26-79 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 Argentina. (ii) Total Estimated Value: Major Defense Equipment * $12 million. Other $128 million. Total $140 million. Funding Source: National Funds. (iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or Services under Consideration for Purchase: Major Defense Equipment (MDE): Four (4) UH-60L Black Hawk helicopters. Two (2) T700-GE-701D engines. Non-MDE: The following non-MDE items will also be included: single or dual attitude heading reference system; APX-100 Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) transponder; APX-123 IFF transponder; AN/ARN-123 or AN/ARN-147 visual omnirange/ instrument landing system receiver; AN/ARN-89 or AN/ARN-149 automatic direction finder radio receiver; AN/ARC-220 high- frequency radio; ARC-186 very high frequency radio; Garmin GTN-750 global positioning system; Cobham C-5000 multiband radio; EBC 406HM emergency locator transmitter; internal auxiliary fuel tank systems; fast rope insertion extraction system; rescue hoist; rescue hoist equipment sets; cargo hook; Bambi bucket; 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 logistics and program support. (iv) Military Department: Army (AR-B-UZI). (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 10, 2026. *As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control Act. POLICY JUSTIFICATION Argentina--UH-60L Blackhawk Helicopters The Government of Argentina has requested to buy four (4) UH-60L Black Hawk helicopters; and two (2) T700-GE-701D engines. The following non-major defense equipment items will also be included: single or dual attitude heading reference system; APX-100 Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) transponder; APX-123 IFF transponder; AN/ARN-123 or AN/ARN- 147 visual omnirange/instrument landing system receiver; AN/ ARN-89 or AN/ARN-149 automatic direction finder radio receiver; AN/ARC-220 high-frequency radio; ARC-186 very high frequency radio; Garmin GTN-750 global positioning system; Cobham C-5000 multiband radio; EBC 406HM emergency locator transmitter; internal auxiliary nrel tank systems; fast rope insertion extraction system; rescue hoist; rescue hoist equipment sets; cargo hook; Bambi bucket; 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 logistics and program support. The estimated total cost is $140 million. This proposed sale will support the foreign policy goals and national security objectives of the United States by improving the security of a major non-NATO Ally that is a force for political stability and economic progress in South America. The proposed sale will improve Argentina's capability to meet current and future threats by providing the additional capacity to conduct Border security, counter-transnational crime, and humanitarian assistance/disaster response. Argentina will have no difficultly 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. [[Page S4731]] The principal contractor will be Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin Company, 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 not require the assignment of any additional U.S. Government or contractor representatives to Argentina. There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a result of this proposed sale. Transmittal No. 26-79 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-60L aircraft is a medium lift, four-bladed helicopter which includes two (2) T-70 ID engines. a. The AN/ARC-220 very high frequency-frequency modulation, single channel ground and airborne radio system, airborne radio is a reliable, field-proven voice and data communication system used with the UH-60L. b. The AN/APX-123, Identification Friend or Foe transponder is a space diversity transponder installed on various military platforms. When installed in conjunction with platform antennas and 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. No Mode-4, Mode-5, or Mode-S is installed in the equipment with a crypto device. 2. The highest level of classification of defense articles, components, and services included in this potential sale is UNCLASSIFIED. 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 Argentina can provide substantially the same degree of protection for 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 Argentina. ____________________