[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 51 (Tuesday, April 5, 2016)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1662-S1664]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
ARMS SALES NOTIFICATION
Mr. CORKER. Madam 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 available to the full Senate, I ask unanimous consent to
have printed in the Record the notifications which have been received.
If the cover letter references a classified annex, then such 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:
Defense Security
Cooperation Agency,
Arlington, VA.
Hon. Bob Corker,
Chairman, Committee on Foreign Relations,
U.S. Senate, Washington, DC.
Dear Mr. Chairman: Pursuant to the reporting requirements
of Section 36(b)(1) of the Arms Export Control Act, as
amended, we are forwarding herewith Transmittal No. 16-23,
concerning the Department of the Air Force's proposed
Letter(s) of Offer and Acceptance to the Government of
Australia for
[[Page S1663]]
defense articles and services estimated to cost $386 million.
After this letter is delivered to your office, we plan to
issue a news release to notify the public of this proposed
sale.
Sincerely,
Jennifer Zakriski,
(for J.W. Rixey, Vice Admiral,
USN, Director).
Enclosures.
Transmittal No. 16-23
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 Australia.
(ii) Total Estimated Value:
Major Defense Equipment * $172 million.
Other $214 million.
Total $386 million.
(iii) Description and Quaulity or Quantities of Articles or
Services under Consideration for Purchase:
Major Defense Equipment (MDE):
Up to 2,950 GBU-39/B Small Diameter Bomb I (SDB I).
Up to 50 Guided Test Vehicles (GTV) with GBU-39 (T-1)/B
(Inert Fuze).
Non-MDE: This request also includes the following Non-MDE:
containers, weapons system support equipment, support and
test equipment, site survey, transportation, repair and
return warranties, spare and repair parts, publications and
technical data, maintenance, personnel training, and training
equipment, U.S. Government and contractor representative
engineering, logistics, and technical support services, and
other related elements of logistics support.
(iv) Military Department: Air Force (YAF).
(v) Prior Related Cases, if any: None.
(vi) Sales Commission, Fee, etc., Paid, Offered, or Agreed
to be Paid: None.
(vii) Sensitivity of Technology Contained in the Defense
Article or Defense Services Proposed to be Sold: See Annex
attached.
(viii) Date Report Delivered to Congress: April 4, 2016.
* As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control
Act.
POLICY JUSTIFICATION
Australia--GBU-39 (Small Diameter Bomb Increment I)
The Government of Australia has requested a possible sale
of:
Major Defense Equipment (MDE):
Up to 2,950 GBU-39/B Small Diameter Bomb I (SDB I).
Up to 50 Guided Test Vehicles (GTV) with GBU-39 (T-1 )/B
(Inert Fuze).
This request also includes the following Non-MDE:
containers, weapons system support equipment, support and
test equipment, site survey, transportation, repair and
return warranties, spare and repair parts, publications and
technical data, maintenance, personnel training, and training
equipment, U.S. Government and contractor representative
engineering, logistics, and technical support services, and
other related elements of logistics support.
The total estimated value of MDE is $172 million. The total
overall estimated value is $386 million.
Australia is one of our most important allies in the
Western Pacific. The strategic location of this political and
economic power contributes significantly to ensuring peace
and economic stability in the region. This proposed sale will
contribute to the foreign policy and national security of the
United States by helping to improve the security of a major
contributor to political stability, security, and economic
development in the Pacific region and globally.
The sale of SDB I supports and complements the on-going
sale of the F-35 to the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF).
This capability will strengthen combined operations and
increase interoperability between the U.S. Air Force and the
RAAF. Australia will have no difficulty absorbing this
equipment into its armed forces.
The proposed sale of this equipment will not alter the
basic military balance in the region.
The principal contractor for production is Boeing in St.
Louis, Missouri. The principal contractor for integration is
unknown and will be determined during contract negotiations.
There are no known offset agreements proposed in connection
with this potential sale.
Implementation of this proposed sale will not require the
assignment of any additional U.S. or contractor
representatives to Australia.
There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness
as a result of this proposed sale.
Transmittal No. 16-23
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. Sensitive and/or classified (up to SECRET) elements of
the proposed acquisition include hardware, accessories,
components, and associated software: GBU-39/B Small Diameter
Bomb Increment I (SDB I). Additional sensitive areas include
operating manuals and maintenance technical orders containing
performance information, operating and test procedures, and
other information related to the support operations and
repair. The hardware, software, and data identified are
classified to protect vulnerabilities, design and performance
parameters, and other similar critical information.
2. The GBU-39/B Small Diameter Bomb Increment T (SDB I) is
a 250-pound class weapon designed as a small, all-weather,
autonomous, conventional, air-to-ground, precision glide
weapon able to strike fixed and stationary re-locatable
targets from standoff range. The SDB I weapon system consists
of the weapons, the BRU-61/A (4-place pneumatic carriage
system), shipping and handling containers for a single weapon
and the BRU-61/A either empty or loaded, and a weapon
planning module. It has integrated diamond-back type wings
that deploy after releases, which increases the glide time
and therefore maximum range. The SDB I Anti-Jam Global
Positioning System aided Inertial Navigation System (AJGPS/
INS) provides guidance to the coordinates of a stationary
target. The payload/warhead is a very effective multipurpose
penetrating and blast fragmentation warhead coupled with a
cockpit selectable electronic fuze. Its size and accuracy
allow for an effective munition with less collateral damage.
A proximity sensor provides height of burst capability.
3. A determination has been made that the recipient country
can provide substantially the same degree of protection for
the sensitive technology associated with this system as the
U.S. Government. This sale is necessary in furtherance of the
U.S. foreign policy and national security objectives outlined
in the Policy Justification.
4. All defense articles and services listed in this
transmittal have been authorized for release and export to
the Government of Australia.
____
Defense Security
Cooperation Agency,
Arlington, VA.
Hon. Bob Corker,
Chairman, Committee on Foreign Relations,
U.S. Senate, Washington, DC.
Dear Mr. Chairman: Pursuant to the reporting requirements
of Section 36(b)(5)(A) of the Arms Export Control Act (AECA),
as amended, we are forwarding Transmittal No. 0J-16. This
notification relates to enhancements or upgrades from the
level of sensitivity of technology or capability described in
the Section 36(b)(1) AECA certification 15-62 of 19 November
2015.
Sincerely,
Jennifer Zakriski,
(for J.W. Rixey, Vice Admiral, USN, Director).
Enclosures.
Transmittal No. 0J-16
Report of Enhancement or Upgrade of Sensitivity of Technology
or Capability (Sec. 36(b)(5)(A), AECA)
i. Purchaser: Government of Japan.
ii. Sec. 36(b)(1), AECA Transmittal No.: 15-62; Date: 19
November 2015; Military Department: Air Force.
iii. Description: On 19 November 2015, Congress was
notified by Congressional certification transmittal number
15-62, of the possible sale under Section 36(b)(1) of the
Arms Export Control Act of three (3) RQ-4 Block 30 (I) Global
Hawk Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA), each with Enhanced
Integrated Sensor Suite (EISS), eight (8) Kearfott Inertial
Navigation System/Global Positioning System (INS/GPS) units
(2 per aircraft with 2 spares), and eight (8) LN-251 INS/GPS
units (2 per aircraft with 2 spares). Also included with this
request are operational-level sensor and aircraft test
equipment, ground support equipment, operational flight test
support, communications equipment, spare and repair parts,
personnel training, publications and technical data, U.S.
Government and contractor technical and logistics support
services, and other related elements of logistics support.
The total value of this sale is $1.2 billion. Major Defense
Equipment (MDE) constitutes $689 million of this sale.
This transmittal reports the inclusion of two Ground
Control Elements (GCE). The GCEs were not enumerated as MDE
in the original notification of the Global Hawk RPA system.
Inclusion of this equipment as MDE will increase the MDE cost
by $31 million, resulting in a revised MDE cost of $720
million. The total case value will remain $1.2 billion.
iv. Significance: This notification is being provided as
the GCEs were not enumerated as MDE in the original
notification. Their inclusion does not necessarily represent
an increase in capability over what was notified, but
properly identifies the equipment required for Global Hawk
operations. This equipment provides the Japan Air Self-
Defense Force (JASDF) a ground control station from which to
fly and execute Global Hawk surveillance missions. Overall,
these systems meet the requirements of providing the JASDF
with the ability to conduct high-altitude surveillance and
reconnaissance without exposing JASDF personnel to the
dangers inherent to high-altitude ISR operations.
v. Justification: This proposed sale will contribute to the
foreign policy goals and national security objectives of the
United States by meeting the security and defense needs of an
ally and partner nation. Japan continues to be an important
force for peace, political stability, and economic progress
in East Asia and the Western Pacific. The proposed sale of
the RQ-4 will significantly enhance Japan's intelligence,
surveillance, and
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reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities and help ensure that Japan
is able to continue to monitor and deter regional threats.
The JASDF will have no difficulty absorbing these systems
into its armed forces.
vi. Date Report Delivered to Congress: April 4, 2016.
____________________