[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 66 (Tuesday, April 24, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2381-S2382]
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. 18-14,
concerning the Air Force's proposed Letter(s) of Offer and
Acceptance to the Government of the Netherlands for defense
articles and services estimated to cost $110 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,
(For Charles W. Hooper, Lieutenant General, USA Director).
Enclosures.
Transmittal No. 18-14
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: The Government of the
Netherlands.
(ii) Total Estimated Value:
Major Defense Equipment * $0.5 million.
Other $109.5 million.
Total $110.0 million.
(iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or
Services under Consideration for Purchase: The Government of
the Netherlands has requested to buy defense articles and
services in support of continuation of a Continental United
States (CONUS) based Royal Netherlands Air Force F-16 Formal
Training Unit.
Major Defense Equipment (MDE):
Up to twenty-seven (27) GBU-12 Inert Paveway IIs.
Non-MDE: Also included are PGU-27 Inert training rounds,
Impulse Cartridges, MJU-7/B Flares, RR-188 Chaff, BDU-33/B
and BDU-50/B training munitions, fuel and air refueling
support, airlift services, base operating support,
facilities, publications and technical documentation, pilot
training, personnel training and training equipment, weapon
system and software support, U.S. Government and contractor
technical, engineering, and logistics personnel services, and
other related elements of logistics and program support.
(iv) Military Department: Air Force (NE-D-NZW).
(v) Prior Related Cases. if any: NE-D-NXZ-$149.3 million;
19 Sep 13.
(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: None.
(viii) Date Report Delivered to Congress: April 24, 2018.
* As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control
Act.
POLICY JUSTIFICATION
The Netherlands--F-16 Formal Training Unit at Tucson Air National Guard
Base (ANGB), Arizona
The Government of the Netherlands has requested to buy
defense articles and services in support of continuation of a
Continental United States (CONUS) based Royal Netherlands Air
Force F-16 Formal Training Unit, to include up to twenty-
seven (27) GBU-12 Inert Paveway IIs. Also included are PGU-27
Inert training rounds, Impulse Cartridges, MJU-7/B Flares,
RR-188 Chaff, BDU-33/B and BDU-50/B training munitions, fuel
and air refueling support, airlift services, base operating
support, facilities, publications and technical
documentation, pilot training, personnel training and
training equipment, weapon system and software support, U.S.
Government and contractor technical, engineering, and
logistics personnel services, and other related elements of
logistics and program support. The estimated program value is
$110 million.
This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and
national security objectives of the United States by
improving the security of a NATO Ally which is an important
force for political stability and economic progress in
Europe.
This potential sale will continue to improve the Royal
Netherlands Air Force's (RNLAF) ability to develop mission-
ready and experienced pilots to support its F-16 aircraft
inventory. The well-established pilot proficiency training
program at Tucson Air National Guard Base will train pilots
in F-16 operations, tactics, techniques, and procedures. This
training will enhance the RNLAF's ability to continue
contributions to Overseas Contingency Operations and to NATO
air policing operations, as well as, to possible future
coalitions operations. The Netherlands will have no
difficulty absorbing this training.
The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not
alter the basic military balance in the region.
There is no prime contractor involved in this proposed
sale. The Tucson Air National Guard will provide instruction,
flight operations, and maintenance support and facilities
with defense articles anticipated to come from U.S. stocks,
as needed. There are no known offset agreements proposed in
connection with this potential sale.
[[Page S2382]]
Implementation of this proposed sale will not require the
assignment of any additional U.S. Government personnel or
contractor representatives to the Netherlands.
There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness
as a result of this proposed sale.
____
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. 18-12,
concerning the Army's proposed Letter(s) of Offer and
Acceptance to the Government of the Netherlands for defense
articles and services estimated to cost $70 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,
(For Charles W. Hooper,
Lieutenant General, USA, Director).
Enclosures.
Transmittal No. 18-12
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 Netherlands
(ii) Total Estimated Value:
Major Defense Equipment * $60 million.
Other $10 million.
Total $70 million.
(iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or
Services under Consideration for Purchase:
Major Defense Equipment (MDE):
Three thousand five hundred (3,500) M1156 Precision Guided
Kit (PGK).
Non-MDE: Also included are six (6) PGK settable trainers;
two (2) PGK cut away models; one hundred (100) M76 PGK fuze
wrenches; ten (10) Extended Length Artillery Projectile
Extractors (ELAPEs); PGK technical data and publications;
U.S. Government engineering and technical support services;
and other related elements of logistics and program support.
(iv) Military Department: Army (NE-B-WKA).
(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 Attached
Annex.
(viii) Date Report Delivered to Congress: April 24, 2018.
*As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control
Act.
POLICY JUSTIFICATION
Netherlands--M1156 Precision Guided Kits
The Netherlands has requested to buy three thousand five
hundred (3,500) M1156 Precision Guided Kits. Also included
are six (6) PGK settable trainers; two (2) PGK cut away
models; one hundred (100) M76 PGK fuze wrenches; ten (10)
Extended Length Artillery Projectile Extractors (ELAPEs); PGK
technical data and publications; U.S. Government engineering
and technical support services; and other related elements of
logistics and program support. The estimated total cost is
$70 million.
This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and
national security objectives of the United States by helping
to improve the security of the Netherlands which is an
important force for political stability and economic progress
in Europe. It is important to the U.S. national interests to
assist the Netherlands to develop and maintain a strong and
ready self-defense capability. The Netherlands has been a
consistent coalition partner supporting the United States in
various coalition combat operations to include counter-ISIS,
Stabilization Force in Iraq, and Afghanistan.
The proposed sale of PGK will provide a precision guided
capability to 155mm artillery projectiles and improve
Netherlands's capability to meet current and future enemy
threats. The Netherlands will use the enhanced capability to
strengthen its homeland defenses, deter regional threats, and
provide direct support to coalition and security cooperation
efforts. The Netherlands will have no difficulty absorbing
this equipment into its armed forces.
The proposed sale of this equipment will not impact the
basic military balance in the region.
The principal contractor will be Orbital ATK. There are no
known offset agreements proposed in connection with this
potential sale. The purchaser typically requests offsets. Any
offset agreement will be defined in negotiations between the
purchaser and the contractor.
Implementation of this sale will not require the assignment
of any additional U.S. or contractor representatives to the
Netherlands.
There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness
as a result of this proposed sale.
Transmittal No. 18-12
Notice of Proposed Issuance of Letter of Offer Pursuant to
Section 36(b)(1) of the Arms Export Control Act, as
amended
Annex Item No. vii
(vii) Sensitivity of Technology:
1. The M1156 Precision Guidance Kit (PGK) is a Global
Positioning System (GPS) Precise Positioning Service (PPS)
guided 155mm artillery projectile fuze. This effort includes
the qualification of PGK on the Assegai M1711 Insensitive
High Explosive (IHE) Base Bleed (BB) projectile with modular
charges DM92 Charge 6 and PGK on the Assegai M1712 IHE Boat
Tail (BT) projectile with modular charges DM92 Charges 5 and
6, both fired from the Netherlands' PzH 2000 self-propelled
howitzer.
2. The M1156 utilizes the Enhanced Portable Electronic Fuze
Setter (EPEFS) to set the PGK and the Portable Electronic
Fire Control System (PEFCS) both purchased previously under a
previous Excalibur FMS case. The PEFCS contain an Improved
Platform Integration Kit (MK) to load GPS coordinates. Both
the PGK and PEFCS contain the Selective Availability Anti-
Spoofing Module (SAASM). The PGK has 90% commonality with the
Army's XM395 Accelerated Precision Mortar Initiative (APMI).
The PGK (the end-item) is unclassified. Transfer of the PGK
may reveal information up to SECRET.
3. The M1156 utilizes the Army's M782 Multi-Option for
Artillery (MOFA) Proximity Height of Burst (HOB) Technology.
The HOB sensor is comprised of components with technologies
deemed as state of the art, requiring specialized production
skills. The sensitive/critical technology is primarily in the
design, development, production and manufacturing of the
components (integrated circuits and assembly), and the
integration methodology required to integrate those
components onto an assembly to process embedded (the
software-algorithm-working parameters). The HOB technology is
classified SECRET.
4. Disclosure of this technology could result in an
adversary developing countermeasures, thus lessening the
effect of the projectile. Disclosure of test data,
countermeasures, vulnerability/susceptibility analyses and
threat definition could all aid reverse engineering and could
be used by an adversary for possible use against U.S. and
Coalition forces. Compromise could jeopardize the U.S. forces
inventory through jammer development by adversaries. The risk
of compromise has been accessed as moderate. Risk is reduced
for fuze/munitions if adequately controlled and protected in
storage and on the battlefield. Risk is mitigated by the
prevention of disclosure of sensitive classified information
(the know-how, software, and associated documentation).
5. 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 weapon system effectiveness or be used in the
development of a system with similar or advanced
capabilities.
6. A determination has been made that the Netherlands can
provide the same degree of protection for the sensitive
technology being released 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.
7. All defense articles and services listed in this
transmittal have been authorized for release and export to
the Netherlands.
____________________