ARMS SALES NOTIFICATION

On 2026-06-10, 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 98 (Wednesday, June 10, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 98 (Wednesday, June 10, 2026)] [Senate] [Pages S2731-S2732] 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 26-37. Pursuant to the reporting requirements of Section 36(b)(1) of the Arms Export Control Act (AECA), as amended, we are forwarding Transmittal No. 26-37 concerning the Navy's proposed Letter(s) of Offer and Acceptance to the Government of New Zealand for defense articles and services estimated to cost $1.5 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, Paul D. Guaglianone, Senior Bureau Official, Bureau of Legislative Affairs. Transmittal No. 26-37 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 New Zealand (ii) Total Estimated Value: Major Defense Equipment * $0.70 billion. Other $0.80 billion. Total $1.50 billion. (iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or Services under Consideration for Purchase: Major Defense Equipment (MDE): Five (5) MH-60R Multi-Mission Helicopters. Seven (7) Link 16 Multifunctional Information Distribution Systems Joint Tactical Radio Systems (5 installed, 2 spares). Fourteen (14) Embedded Global Positioning System/Precise Positioning Service/Inertial Navigation Systems with Selective Availability AntiSpoofing Module (10 installed, 4 spares). Five (5) Airborne Low Frequency Sonar systems. Two hundred twenty-five (225) Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) missiles. Two hundred twenty-five (225) WGU-59A/B APKWS II guidance sections (single variant). Sixty-five (65) AGM-114R Hellfire Missiles. Four (4) M36E8 Hellfire Captive Air Training Missiles. Five (5) digital magnetic anomaly detection systems. Five (5) M240D 7.62mm machine guns. Non-MDE: The following non-MDE will also be included: T700- GE-401D engines; M514 impulse cartridge/cartridge actuated devices; MJ20 cartridge actuated thruster/cartridge actuated devices; WB53 fire extinguisher cartridge/cartridge actuated devices; CCU-136A/A impulse cartridges; GAU-21 crew-served guns (including pintle and laser pointer); M299 guided missile launchers; LAU-61 digital rocket launchers; AN/ARC- 210 RT-2036 radios with communications security; AN/AAR-47 missile warning systems; AN/APX-123 identification friend or foe (IFF) transponders; AN/ALE-47 dispenser, electronic countermeasures; advanced data transfer systems; AN/AAS- 44C(V) multispeetral targeting systems; KIV-78-Mode 4/5 IFF cryptographic applique; Joint Mission Planning Systems; AN/ ARQ-59 Hawklink radio terminals; AN/SSQ-53 directional frequency analysis and recording sonobuoys; AN/SSQ-62 directional command activated sonobuoy system sonobuoys; AN/ SSQ-36 bathythermograph sonobuoys; training simulators/ operational machine interface assistants; aviation maintenance weapons loading trainer; tactical operational flight trainer; AN/ALQ-210 electronic support measures systems; APS-153(V) multi-mode radars; spare engine containers; spare and repair parts; support and test equipment; communications equipment; ferry support; publications and technical documentation; personnel training and training equipment; U.S. Government and contractor engineering, technical, and logistics support services; obsolescence engineering, integration, and test activities required to ensure readiness for the production of the New Zealand MH-60R helicopters; training equipment; studies and surveys; U.S. Government and contractor engineering, technical, and logistics support services; and other related elements of logistics and program support . (iv) Military Department: Navy (NZ-P-SAK). (v) Prior Related Cases, if any: NZ-P-GES. (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: June 4, 2026. * As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control Act. POLICY JUSTIFICATION New Zealand--MH-60R Multi-Mission Helicopters The Government of New Zealand has requested to buy five (5) MH-60R Multi-Mission Helicopters; seven (7) Link 16 Multifunctional Information Distribution Systems Joint Tactical Radio Systems (5 installed, 2 spares); fourteen (14) Embedded Global Positioning System/Precise Positioning Service/Inertial Navigation Systems with Selective Availability Anti-Spoofing Module (10 installed, 4 spares); five (5) Airborne Low Frequency Sonar systems; two hundred twenty-five (225) Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) missiles; two hundred twenty-five (225) WGU-59A/B APKWS II guidance sections (single variant); sixty-five (65) AGM-114R Hellfire missiles; four (4) M36E8 Hellfire Captive Air Training Missiles; five (5) digital magnetic anomaly detection systems; and five (5) M240D 7.62mm machine guns. The following non-major defense equipment items will also be included: T700-GE-401D engines; M514 impulse cartridge/ cartridge actuated devices; MJ20 cartridge actuated thruster/ cartridge actuated devices; WB53 fire extinguisher cartridge/ cartridge actuated devices; CCU-136A/A impulse cartridges; GAU-21 crew-served guns (including pintle and laser pointer); M299 guided missile launchers; LAU-61 digital rocket launchers; AN/ARC-210 RT-2036 radios with communications security; AN/AAR-47 missile warning systems; AN/APX-123 identification friend or foe (IFF) transponders; AN/ALE-47 dispenser, electronic countermeasures; advanced data transfer systems; AN/AAS-44C(V) multi-spectral targeting systems; KIV- 78--Mode 4/5 IFF cryptographic applique; Joint Mission Planning Systems; AN/ARQ-59 Hawklink radio terminals; AN/SSQ- 53 directional frequency analysis and recording sonobuoys; AN/SSQ-62 directional command activated sonobuoy system sonobuoys; AN/SSQ-36 [[Page S2732]] bathythermograph sonobuoys; training simulators/operational machine interface assistants; aviation maintenance weapons loading trainer; tactical operational flight trainer; AN/ALQ- 210 electronic support measures systems; APS-153 (V) multi- mode radars; spare engine containers; spare and repair parts; support and test equipment; communications equipment; ferry support; publications and technical documentation;personnel training and training equipment; U.S. Government and contractor engineering, technical, and logistics support services; obsolescence engineering, integration, and test activities required to ensure readiness for the production of the New Zealand MH-60R helicopters; training equipment; studies and surveys; 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 $1.5 billion. This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security of the United States by improving the security of a major ally that is a force for political stability and economic progress in the Asia-Pacific region. The proposed sale will improve New Zealand's capability to meet current and future warfare threats by providing greater security for its critical infrastructure. New Zealand will use the enhanced capability to strengthen its homeland defense. New Zealand 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 Rotary and Mission Systems, located in Owego, New York. 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 the assignment of one (1) U.S. Government representative and four (4) contractor representatives to New Zealand on a temporary basis in conjunction with program technical oversight and support requirements, including program and technical reviews. There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a result of this proposed sale. transmittal no. 26-37 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 MH-60R Multi-Mission Helicopter focuses primarily on anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare missions. The MH-60R also performs search and rescue, naval gunfire support, surveillance, c