ARMS SALES NOTIFICATION

On 2026-06-17, 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 102 (Wednesday, June 17, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 102 (Wednesday, June 17, 2026)] [Senate] [Pages S2886-S2888] 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 26-58. Pursuant to the reporting requirements of Section 36(b)(1) of the Arms Export Control Act (AECA), as amended, we are forwarding Transmittal No. 26-58 concerning the Army's proposed Letter(s) of Offer and Acceptance to the Government of Austria 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. 26-58 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 Austria. (ii) Total Estimated Value: Major Defense Equipment *$0.79 billion. Other $0.71 billion. Total $1.50 billion. (iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or Services under Consideration for Purchase: Major Defense Equipment (MDE): Twelve (12) UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters. Twenty-six (26) T700-GE-70 ID engines. Five (5) AN/AAR-57 Common Missile Warning Systems. Five (5) Common Infrared Countermeasure Systems. Five (5) AN/APR-39E(V)2 Radar Warning Receivers. Thirty (30) EAGLE-M+429. Thirty (30) AN/ARC-231A RT-1987 VHF/UHF/LOS SATCOM radios. Non-MDE: The following non-MDE items will also be included: AN/ARC- 201D RT-1478D; AVR-2B laser detecting sets; APX-128 Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) transponder; AN/PYQ-10 simple key loader; KIV-79 Common IFF Applique Crypto Computers; AN/ARN-147(V) very high frequency 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; AN/APN-209 radar altimeter; EBC-406HM emergency locator transmitter; improved heads up display (IHUD); signal data converters for IHUD; color weather radars; MX-10D EO/IR with laser designator; engine inlet barrier filters; ballistic armor protection systems; internal auxiliary fuel tank systems; fast rope insertion extraction system; external rescue hoist; 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; Degraded Visual Environment system; LINK-16 (small tactical terminal KOR-24A); traffic alert collision avoidance system; cargo hook scale; sling load observation capability; direction finder DF-935; environmental control system; snow skis provisions; Bambi bucket provisions; helicopter terrain awareness system; CONRAD troop radio capability; TETRA BOS radio capability; very important person kit; 28 VDC/10A utility power socket (cabin); universal serial bus charging outlet; crashworthy extended range fuel system tanks; instrument panel; cockpit multifunction display; cartridge, aircraft fire extinguisher; cartridge, impulse; thruster control unit 3/A; cartridge, aircraft; Black Hawk aircrew trainer; M-134 mini-guns and spares; training devices; 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 support. (iv) Military Department: Army (AU-B-VCV). (v) Prior Related Cases, if any: AU-B-VCS. (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 17, 2026. * As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control Act. POLICY JUSTIFICATION Austria--UH-60M Black Hawk Helicopters. The Government of Austria has requested to buy twelve (12) UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters consisting of (26) T700-GE-701D engines; five (5) AN/AAR-57 Common Missile [[Page S2887]] Warning Systems; five (5) Common Infrared Countermeasure Systems; five (5) AN/APR-39E(v)2 Radar Warning Receiver; thirty (30) EAGLE-M+429; and thirty (30) AN/ARC-231A RT-1987 VHF/UHF/LOS SATCOM radios. The following non-MDE items will also be included: AN/ARC-201D RT-1478D; AVR-2B laser detecting sets; APX-128 Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) transponder; AN/PYQ-10 simple key loader; KIV-79 common IFF applique crypto computers; AN/ARN-147(V) very high frequency 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; AN/APN-209 radar altimeter; EBC-406HM emergency locator transmitter; improved heads up display (IHUD); signal data converters for IHUD; color weather radars; MX-10D EO/IR with laser designator; engine inlet barrier filters; ballistic armor protection systems; internal auxiliary fuel tank systems; fast rope insertion extraction system; external rescue hoist; 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; degraded visual environment system; LINK-16 (small tactical terminal KOR-24A); traffic alert collision avoidance system; cargo hook scale; sling load observation capability; direction finder DF-935; environmental control system; snow skis provisions; Bambi bucket provisions; helicopter terrain awareness system; CONRAD troop radio capability; TETRA BOS radio capability; very important person kit; 28 VDC/10A utility power socket (cabin); universal serial bus charging outlet; crashworthy extended range fuel systems tanks; instrument panel; cockpit multi-function display; cartridge9 aircraft fire extinguisher; cartridge, impulse; thruster control unit 3/A; cartridge, aircraft; Black Hawk aircrew trainer; M-134 mini-guns and spares; training devices; 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 support. The estimated total cost is $1.50 billion. This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States by helping to improve the security of a partner that is a force for political stability and economic progress in Europe. The proposed sale will improve Austria's capability to deter current and future threats and support coalition operations and the United States' and Austria's goal of greater military interoperability. Austria 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 contractor will be Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin Company, located in Jupiter, FL. 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 approximately fifteen U.S. Government and/or fifteen contractor representatives to travel to Austria 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. 26-58 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 system, 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 (DCUs). The navigation system will have Embedded GPS/INS (EGIs), and two (2) advanced flight control computer systems, which provide four- axis aircraft control. a. The AN/ARC-201D very high frequency-frequency mod