[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 175 (Monday, October 30, 2017)]
[Senate]
[Page S6871]
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. 17-57, concerning the Air Force's proposed
Letter(s) of Offer and Acceptance to the Government of Canada for
defense articles and services estimated to cost $140 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,
Charles W. Hooper,
Lieutenant General, USA,
Director.
Enclosures.
Transmittal No. 17-57
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 Canada.
(ii) Total Estimated Value:
Major Defense Equipment* $130 million.
Other $ 10 million.
Total $140 million.
(iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or
Services under Consideration for Purchase:
Major Defense Equipment (MDE):
Up to thirty-two (32) AIM-120D Advanced Medium-Range Air-
to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM).
Up to eighteen (18) AMRAAM Captive Air Training Missiles
(CATMs).
Up to four (4) AMRAAM Non-Development Item Airborne
Instrumentation Unit (NDI-AIU).
Up to two (2) AMRAAM Instrumented Test Vehicles (ITV).
Up to seven (7) spare AMRAAM guidance units.
Up to four (4) spare AMRAAM control sections.
Non-MDE: Included in the sale are containers; storage and
preservation; transportation; aircrew and maintenance
training; training aids and equipment, spares and repair
parts; warranties; weapon system support and test equipment;
publications and technical documentation; software
development integration, and support; system integration and
testing; U.S. Government and contractor engineering technical
and logistics support; and other related elements of
logistics and program support.
(iv) Military Department: Air Force (XX-D-YDG).
(v) Prior Related Cases. if any: CN-D-YAE for AIM-120
AMRAAMs; CN-D-QBU for in-service support for those AMRAAMs.
(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 Attached
Annex.
(viii) Date Report Delivered to Congress: Oct 30, 2017.
* As defined in Section 47 (6) of the Arms Export Control
Act.
POLICY JUSTIFICATION
Canada--AIM-120D Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM)
The Government of Canada has requested a Letter of Offer
and Acceptance for the procurement of up to thirty-two (32)
AIM-120D Advanced Medium-Range Air-to Air Missiles (AMRAAMs),
up to eighteen (18) AMRAAM Captive Air Training Missiles
(CATMs); up to four (4) AMRAAM Non-Development Item Airborne
Instrumentation Unit (NDI-AIU); up to two (2) AMRAAM
Instrumented Test Vehicles (ITV); up to seven (7) spare
AMRAAM guidance units; up to four (4) spare AMRAAM control
sections for use on their F/A-18 aircraft. Included in the
sale are containers; storage and preservation;
transportation; aircrew and maintenance training; training
aids and equipment, spares and repair parts; warranties;
weapon system support and test equipment; publications and
technical documentation; software development, integration,
and support; system integration and testing; U.S. Government
and contractor engineering, technical, and logistics support;
and other related elements of logistics and program support.
The estimated total cost is $140 million.
This proposed sale will contribute to the foreign policy
and national security objectives of the United States by
helping to improve the security of a NATO ally which has
been, and continues to be, a key democratic partner of the
United States in ensuring peace and stability. The missiles
will be used on Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) fighter
aircraft.
This proposed sale of defense articles and services is
required to enable RCAF fighters to optimally fulfill both
North American Aerospace Defense (NORAD) and NATO missions
and also meets the U.S. Northern Command's goals of combined
air operations interoperability and standardization between
Canadian and U.S. forces. The RCAF will have no difficulty
absorbing these missiles into its inventory.
The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not
alter the basic military balance in the region.
The prime contractor will be Raytheon Missile Systems,
Tucson, AZ. The Government of Canada has advised that it will
negotiate offset agreements in conjunction with this sale.
Implementation of this proposed sale will not require the
assignment of any additional U.S. Government or contractor
representatives to Canada.
There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness
as a result of this proposed sale.
Transmittal No. 17-57
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 AIM-120D Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile
(AMRAAM) hardware, including the missile guidance section, is
classified CONFIDENTIAL. State-of-the-art technology is used
in the missile to provide it with unique beyond-visual-range
capability. The increase in capability from the AIM-120C-7 to
AIM-120D consists of a two-way data link, a more accurate
navigation unit, improved High-Angle Off-Boresight (HOBS)
capability, and enhanced aircraft-to-missile position
handoff.
2. AIM-120D features a target detection device with
embedded electronic countermeasures, and electronics unit
within the guidance section that performs all radar signal
processing, midcourse and terminal guidance, flight control,
target detection, and warhead burst point determination.
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 that
might reduce weapon system effectiveness or be used in the
development of a system with similar or advanced
capabilities.
4. A determination has been made that Canada 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 further the U.S. foreign policy
and national security objectives outlined in the Policy
Justification.
5. All defense articles and services listed on this
transmittal are authorized for release and export to Canada.
____________________