[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 40 (Wednesday, March 7, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1447-S1448]
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. 17-20,
concerning the Navy's proposed Letter(s) of Offer and
Acceptance to the Government of the United Arab Emirates for
defense articles and services estimated to cost $270.4
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. 17-20
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 the United Arab
Emirates (UAE).
(ii) Total Estimated Value:
Major Defense Equipment* $240.0 million.
Other $30.4 million.
Total $270.4 million.
(iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or
Services under Consideration for Purchase:
Major Defense Equipment (MDE):
Three hundred (300) AIM-9X-2 Sidewinder Block II Missiles.
Forty (40) AIM-9X-2 Sidewinder Captive Air Training
Missiles (CATMs).
Thirty (30) AIM-9X-2 Sidewinder Block II Tactical Guidance
Units.
Fifteen (15) AIM-9X-2 CATM Guidance Units.
Non-MDE includes: Also includes containers, spares, support
equipment and missile support, U.S. Government and contractor
technical assistance and other related logistics support, and
other associated support equipment and services.
(iv) Military Department: Navy (ABJ).
(v) Prior Related Cases, if any: AE-P-AAL (AIM-9M); and AE-
P-ABA (AIM-9-X2 (previously notified and offered but the
customer allowed the LOA to expire)).
(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: March 7, 2018.
*As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control
Act.
POLICY JUSTIFICATION
Government of the United Arab Emirates (UAE)--AIM-9X-2 Sidewinder Block
II Missiles
The UAE has requested the possible sale of three hundred
(300) AIM-9X-2 Sidewinder Block II missiles, forty (40) AIM-
9X-2 Sidewinder Captive Air Training Missiles (CATMs), thirty
(30) AIM-9X-2 Block II Tactical guidance units, fifteen (15)
AIM-9X-2 CATM guidance units, containers, spares, support
equipment and missile support, U.S. Government and contractor
technical assistance and other related logistics support, and
other associated support equipment and services. The total
estimated cost is $270.4 million.
This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and
national security objectives of the United States by helping
to improve the security of a friendly country which has been,
and continues to be, an important force for political
stability and economic progress in the Middle East.
This potential sale will improve the UAE's capability to
meet current and future threats and provide an enhanced
capability for its Air Force. The UAE will use the enhanced
capability to strengthen its homeland defense. The UAE will
have no difficulty absorbing this equipment into its armed
forces.
The proposed sale of this equipment and support does not
alter the basic military balance in the region.
The prime contractor will be Raytheon Missile Systems
Company, Tucson, AZ. There are no known offset agreements
proposed in connection with this potential sale.
Implementation of this proposed sale will require U.S.
Government or contractor representatives to travel to the UAE
on a temporary basis for program technical support and
management oversight.
There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness
as a result of this proposed sale.
Transmittal No. 17-20
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-9X-2 Sidewinder Block II missile represents a
substantial increase in missile acquisition and kinematics
performance over the AIM-9M and replaces the AIM-9X Block I
missile configuration. The missile includes a high off-
boresight seeker, enhanced countermeasure rejection
capability, low drag/high angle of attack airframe and the
ability to integrate the Helmet Mounted Cueing System. The
software algorithms are the most sensitive portion of the
AIM-9X-2 missile. The software continues to be modified via a
Pre-Planned Product Improvement (P\3\I) program in order to
improve its counter-countermeasure capabilities. No software
source code or algorithms will be released. The missile is
classified as CONFIDENTIAL.
2. The AIM-9X-2 Sidewinder Block II missile will result in
the transfer of sensitive technology and information. The
equipment, hardware, and documentation are classified
CONFIDENTIAL. The software and operational performance are
classified SECRET. The seeker/guidance control section and
the target detector are CONFIDENTIAL and contain sensitive
state-of-the-art technology. Manuals and technical
documentation that are necessary or support operational use
and organizational management are classified up to SECRET.
Performance and operating logic of the counter-
countermeasures circuits are classified SECRET. The hardware,
software, and data identified are classified to protect
vulnerabilities, design and performance parameters and
similar critical information.
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 advanced capabilities.
4. All defense articles and services listed in this
transmittal have been authorized for release and export to
the Government of the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
____
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. 17-41,
concerning the Air Force's proposed Letter(s) of Offer and
Acceptance to the Government of Qatar for defense articles
and services estimated to cost $197 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,
Greg M. Kausner,
(For Charles W. Hooper, Lieutenant General, USA Director).
Enclosures.
Transmittal No. 17-41
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 Qatar.
(ii) Total Estimated Value:
Major Defense Equipment: * $1 million.
Other: $196 million.
Total: $197 million.
(iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or
Services under Consideration for Purchase: The Government of
Qatar has requested to purchase equipment and support to
upgrade the Qatari Emiri Air Force's (QEAF) Air Operation
Center (AOC), to include Link 16 network and classified
networks integration, to enhance the performance of
integrated air defense planning and provide US-Qatari systems
interoperability.
Major Defense Equipment (MDE): One (1) Multifunctional
Information Distribution System (MIDS) Low Volume Terminal
(LVT).
Non-MDE: Also included are Global Positioning System (GPS)
Selective Availability Anti-Spoofing Module (SAASM) Chips,
Simple Key Loaders (SKL), High Assurance Internet Protocol
Encryptors (HAIPE),
[[Page S1448]]
Ground Support System (GSS) components for Link-16, as well
as the necessary infrastructure construction, integration,
installation, and sustainment services, cybersecurity
services, technical and support facilities, COMSEC support,
secure communications equipment, encryption devices, software
development, spare and repair parts, support and test
equipment, publications and technical documentation, security
certification and accreditation, personnel training and
training equipment, U.S. Government and contractor
engineering, technical and logistics support services; and
other related elements of logistical and program support.
(iv) Military Department: Air Force (QA-D-DAG)
(v) Prior Related Cases, if any: N/A
(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: March 7, 2018.
As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control Act.
POLICY JUSTIFICATION
Qatar--Upgrade of Qatar Air Operations Center (AOC)
The Government of Qatar has requested to purchase equipment
and support to upgrade the Qatari Emiri Air Force's (QEAF)
Air Operation Center (AOC) to enhance the performance of
integrated air defense planning and provide US-Qatari systems
interoperability. This sale includes: one (1) Multifunctional
Information Distribution System (MIDS) Low Volume Terminal
(LVT), Global Positioning System (GPS) Selective Availability
Anti-Spoofing Module (SAASM) chips, Simple Key Loaders (SKL),
High Assurance Internet Protocol Encryptors (HAIPE), Ground
Support System (GSS) components for Link-16 as well as the
necessary infrastructure construction, integration,
installation, and sustainment services, cybersecurity
services, technical and support facilities, COMSEC support,
secure communications equipment, encryption devices, software
development, spare and repair parts, support and test
equipment, publications and technical documentation, security
certification and accreditation, personnel training and
training equipment, U.S. Government and contractor
engineering, technical and logistics support services; and
other related elements of logistical and program support. The
estimated cost is $197 million.
This proposed sale will contribute to the foreign policy
and national security of the United States by helping to
improve the security of a friendly country that has been, and
continues to be, an important force for political stability
and economic progress in the Persian Gulf region. Our mutual
defense interests anchor our relationship and the Qatar Emiri
Air Force (QEAF) plays a predominant role in Qatar's defense.
The upgrade of the AOC will support the defensive
capability of Qatar. The proposed sale will help strengthen
Qatar's capability to counter current and future threats in
the region and reduce dependence on U.S. forces. Qatar will
have no difficulty absorbing the required equipment and
capability into its armed forces.
The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not
alter the basic military balance in the region.
The prime contractor will be Raytheon, Waltham, MA. Qatar
typically requests offsets. Any offset agreement will be
defined in negotiations between Qatar and the contractor.
Implementation of this proposed sale will require the
assignment of approximately five (5) additional U.S.
Government and approximately fifteen (15) contractor
representatives to Qatar.
There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness
as a result of this proposed sale.
Transmittal No. 17-41
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 Multifunctional Information Distribution System-Low
Volume Terminal (MIDS-LVT) is an advanced Link-16 command,
control, communications, and intelligence (C3I) system
incorporating high-capacity, jam-resistant, digital
communication links is used for exchange of near real-time
tactical information, including both data and voice, among
air, ground, and sea elements. The terminal hardware,
publications, performance specifications, operational
capability, parameters, vulnerabilities to countermeasures,
and software documentation are classified CONFIDENTIAL. The
classified information to be provided consists of that which
is necessary for the operation, maintenance, and repair
(through intermediate level) of the data link terminal,
installed systems, and related software.
2. A Global Positioning System (GPS) Selective Availability
Anti-Spoofing Module (SAASM) deploys anti-spoofing measures
using cryptography to protect authorized users from false
satellite signals generated by an enemy. Information
revealing SAASM implementation details such as number or
length of keying variables, circuit diagrams, specific
quantitative measures, functions, and capabilities are
classified SECRET.
3. Software, hardware, and other data/information, which is
classified or sensitive, is reviewed prior to release to
protect system vulnerabilities, design data, and performance
parameters. Some end-item hardware, software, and other data
identified above are classified at the CONFIDENTIAL and
SECRET//RELEASABLE TO QATAR level. Potential compromise of
these systems is controlled through management of the basic
software programs of highly sensitive systems and software-
controlled weapon systems on a case-by-case basis.
4. 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.
5. A determination has been made that Qatar 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.
6. All defense articles and services listed on this
transmittal are authorized for release and export to the
Government of Qatar.
____________________