[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 44 (Tuesday, March 12, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Page S1789]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        ARMS SALES NOTIFICATION

  Mr. RISCH. 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. James E. Risch,
     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. 19-12 
     concerning the Air Force's proposed Letter(s) of Offer and 
     Acceptance to the Government of Australia for defense 
     articles and services estimated to cost $240.5 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. 19-12

     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 Australia.
       (ii) Total Estimated Value:
       Major Defense Equipment * $219.6 million.
       Other $ 20.9 million.
       Total $240.5 million.
       (iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or 
     Services under Consideration for Purchase: The Government of 
     Australia has requested to buy defense articles and services 
     from the U.S. Government in support of the National Advanced 
     Surface to Air Missile System (NASAMS).
       Major Defense Equipment (MDE):
       One hundred eight (108) AIM-120C-7 Advanced Medium-Range 
     Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM).
       Six (6) AIM-120C-7 AMRAAM Air Vehicles Instrumented.
       Six (6) Spare AIM-120C-7 AMRAAM Guidance Sections.
       Non-MDE: Also included are containers, weapon 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 (AT-D-YAI).
       (v) Prior Related Cases, if any: AT-D-YLD.
       (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 12, 2019.
       * As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control 
     Act.


                          POLICY JUSTIFICATION

    Australia--AIM-120C-7 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles

       The Government of Australia has requested to buy up to 108 
     AIM-120C-7 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles 
     (AMRAAM); six (6) AIM-120C-7 AMRAAM Air Vehicles 
     Instrumented; and six (6) spare AIM-120C-7 AMRAAM guidance 
     sections. Also included are containers, weapon 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. These items are in support of Australia's 
     purchase of the National Advanced Surface to Air Missile 
     System (NASAMS). The estimated total program cost is $240.5 
     million.
       This sale will support the foreign policy and national 
     security of the United States by helping to improve the 
     security of a major ally that is an important force for 
     political stability and economic progress in the Western 
     Pacific. It is vital to the U.S. national interest to assist 
     our ally in developing and maintaining a strong and ready 
     self-defense capability.
       This proposed sale is in support of the Australian Defence 
     Force (ADF) Project LAND 19 Phase 7B for acquisition of a 
     ground based air and missile defense capability. 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 prime contractor will be Raytheon Missile Systems, 
     Tucson, Arizona. There are no known offset arrangements 
     proposed in connection with this potential sale.
       Implementation of this proposed sale will not require the 
     assignment of any additional U.S. Government 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. 19-12

     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. AIM-120C Advance Medium Range Air-to-Air (AMRAAM) is a 
     radar guided missile featuring digital technology and micro-
     miniature solid-state electronics. AMRAAM capabilities 
     include look-down/shoot-down, multiple launches against 
     multiple targets, resistance to electronic counter measures, 
     and interception of high flying and low flying and 
     maneuvering targets. AIM-120 Captive Air Training Missiles 
     are non-functioning, inert missile rounds used for armament 
     load training, and which also simulates the correct weight 
     and balance of live missiles during captive carry on training 
     sorties. The AIM-120C-7, as employed in the National Advanced 
     Surface-to-Air System (NASAMS), protects national assets from 
     imminent hostile air threats. The AMRAAM All Up Round is 
     classified CONFIDENTIAL, major components and subsystems 
     range from UNCLASSIFIED to CONFIDENTIAL, and technology data 
     and other documentation are classified up to SECRET.
       2. 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.
       3. A determination has been made that Australia can provide 
     substantially 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.
       4. All defense articles and services listed in this 
     transmittal are authorized for release and export to the 
     Government of Australia.

                          ____________________