[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 129 (Monday, July 31, 2017)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4612-S4613]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
ARMS SALES NOTIFICATION
Mr. CORKER. 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 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. 17-30,
concerning the Navy's proposed Letter(s) of Offer and
Acceptance to the Government of Switzerland for defense
articles and services estimated to cost $115 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,
Gregory M. Kausner,
Acting Director.
Enclosures.
Transmittal No. 17-30
Notice of Proposed Issuance of Letter of Offer Pursuant to
Section 35(b)(1) of the Arms Export Control Act, as
amended
(i) (U) Prospective Purchaser: The Government of
Switzerland.
(ii) (U) Total Estimated Value:
Major Defense Equipment * $25 million.
Other $90 million.
Total $115 million.
(iii) (U) Description and Quantity or Quantities of
Articles or Services under Consideration for Purchase:
The following defense articles and services have been
requested as part of a Service Life Extension Program for
Switzerland's F/A-18C/D aircraft:
Major Defense Equipment (MDE):
Up to fifty (50) Multifunctional Information Distribution
System Joint Tactical Radio System (MIDS JTRS) with
Concurrent Multi-Net 4 (CMN-4) Capability.
Non-MDE includes: Fifty (50) ARC-210 GEN 5 RT-1900A(C)
radios w/Second Generation Anti-Jam Tactical UHF Radio for
NATO (SATURN) frequency hopping; twenty (20) Joint Helmet
Mounted Cueing System (JHMCS) Night Vision Cueing Display
(NVCD); CIT Automated Dependence Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-
B) Out; software enhancements to the APG-73 radar;
improvements to the F/A-18 Software Configuration Set (SCS)
29C; and sustainment for the ALQ-165 Airborne Self Protection
Jammer (ASPJ) system. Operational support for these
modifications will be provided through upgrades to the
purchaser's unique Mission Data System. Also included are:
system integration and testing; software development and
integration; support equipment; spare and repair parts;
maintenance personnel and pilot familiarization training;
software support; publications and technical documents; U.S.
Government and contractor technical assistance; and other
related elements of logistics and program support.
(iv) (U) Military Department: Navy (XX-P-LAS).
(v) (U) Prior Related Cases, if any: SZ-P-LAN.
(vi) (U) Sales Commission, Fee, etc., Paid, Offered, or
Agreed to be Paid: None.
(vii) (U) Sensitivity of Technology Contained in the
Defense Article or Defense Services Proposed to be Sold: See
Attached Annex.
(viii) (U) Date Report Delivered to Congress: July 28,
2017.
*As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control
Act.
POLICY JUSTIFICATION
(U) Government of Switzerland--F/A-18 Upgrades
(U) The Government of Switzerland has requested the
possible sale of a Service Life
[[Page S4613]]
Extension Program for its F/A-18C/D aircraft to include up to
fifty (50) Multifunctional Information Distribution System
Joint Tactical Radio System (MIDS JTRS) with Concurrent
Multi-Net 4 (CMN-4) capability; fifty (50) ARC-210 GEN 5 RT-
1900A(C) radios w/Second Generation Anti-Jam Tactical UHF
Radio for NATO (SATURN) frequency hopping; twenty (20) Joint
Helmet Mounted Cueing System (JHMCS) Night Vision Cueing
Display (NVCD); CIT Automated Dependence Surveillance-
Broadcast (ADS-B) Out; software enhancements to the APG-73
radar; improvements to the F/A-18 Software Configuration Set
(SCS) 29C; and sustainment for the ALQ-165 Airborne Self
Protection Jammer (ASPJ) system. Operational support for
these modifications will be provided through upgrades to the
purchaser's unique Mission Data System. Also included are:
system integration and testing; software development and
integration; support equipment; spare and repair parts;
maintenance personnel and pilot familiarization training;
software support; publications and technical documents; U.S.
Government and contractor technical assistance; and other
related elements of logistics and program support. The
estimated total case value is $115 million.
(U) This proposed sale will contribute to the foreign
policy and national security objectives of the United States
by helping to improve the security of Switzerland which has
been, and continues to be an important force for political
stability and economic progress in Europe. Switzerland is
also a member of the NATO Partnership for Peace (PfP)
program.
(U) The proposed sale will allow the Swiss Air Force to
extend the useful life of its F/A-18 fighter aircraft and
enhance their survivability. Further, the proposed sale will
increase Switzerland's tactical aviation operational
capabilities. Switzerland will have no difficulty absorbing
this equipment and support into its armed forces.
(U) The proposed sale of this equipment and support will
not alter the basic military balance in the region.
(U) The principal contractors will be the Boeing Company,
McDonnell Douglas Corporation, St. Louis, MO; Data Link
Solutions LLC, Wayne, NJ; Rockwell Collins, Cedar Rapids, IA;
Rockwell Collins ESA Vision System LLC, Fort Worth, TX. There
are no known offset agreements associated with this potential
sale.
(U) Implementation of this proposed sale will not require
the assignment of any additional U.S. Government personnel or
contractor representatives to Switzerland. However, multiple
trips to Switzerland involving U.S. Government and contractor
representatives will be required for technical reviews/
support, and program management.
(U) There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense
readiness as a result of this proposed sale.
Transmittal No. 17-30
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) (U) Sensitivity of Technology:
1. (U) The hardware and software being purchased is being
used to upgrade Switzerland's existing F/A-18C/D Hornet
aircraft. Description and classification of the hardware and
software being purchased are detailed in the following
paragraphs.
a. (U) The MIDS/JTRS with CMN-4 is a secure, scalable,
modular, wireless, and jam-resistant digital information
system currently providing Tactical Air Navigation (TACAN),
Link-16, and J-Voice to airborne, ground, and maritime joint
and coalition warfighting platforms. MIDS provides real-time
and low-cost information and situational awareness via
digital and voice, communications within the JTRS Enterprise.
The MIDS/JTRS hardware is UNCLASSIFIED. The MIDS/JTRS
software requires a crypto key be loaded in order to
function. The crypto key required for operation is a
Controlled Cryptographic Item (CCI).
b. (U) The ARC-210 GEN 5 RT-1990A(C) is a digital radio
capable of transmit and receipt of Digital Communication
System, Variable Message Format (DCS/VMF) encrypted data
messages. The RT-1990 hardware is UNCLASSIFIED. The RT 1900
software requires a crypto key be loaded in order to
function. The crypto key required for operation is a
Controlled Cryptographic Item (CCI).
c. (U) The AN/AVS-11 Night Vision Cueing Device (NVCD) is
UNCLASSIFIED but is capable of high resolution imaging. This
capability allows reduced visibility weapon delivery using
Switzerland's F/A-18C/D aircraft. While the NVCD hardware is
UNCLASSIFIED, this item requires Enhanced End Use Monitoring
(EEUM).
2. (U) 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 weapons systems
effectiveness or be used in the development of a system with
similar or advanced capabilities.
3. (U) A determination has been made that the Government of
Switzerland can provide substantially the same degree of
protection for the sensitive technology being released as the
U.S. Government. This proposed sale is necessary to the
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 are authorized for release and export to the
Government of Switzerland.
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