[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 113 (Monday, July 8, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4693-S4694]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
ARMS SALES NOTIFICATION
Mr. RISCH. 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. 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. 19-22
concerning the Army's proposed Letter(s) of Offer and
Acceptance to the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative
Office in the United States (TECRO) for defense articles and
services estimated to cost $2.0 billion. 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. 19-22
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: Taipei Economic and Cultural
Representative Office in the United States (TECRO).
(ii) Total Estimated Value:
Major Defense Equipment* $1.450 billion.
Other $.550 billion.
Total $2.000 billion.
(iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or
Services under Consideration for Purchase:
Major Defense Equipment (MDE):
One hundred eight (108) MlA2T Abrams Tanks.
One hundred twenty-two (122) M2 Chrysler Mount Machine
Guns.
Two hundred sixteen (216) M240 Machine Guns.
Fourteen (14) M88A2 HERCULES Vehicles.
Sixteen (16) M1070A1 Heavy Equipment Transporters (HET).
Five hundred seventy-two (572) M1002 TPMP-T1 Rounds.
Three hundred fifty-nine (359) M831A1 HEAT Rounds.
Six hundred twenty-one (621) M865 TPCSPS-T2 Rounds.
Eight hundred twenty-eight (828) CZ11 Advanced Multipurpose
Rounds.
Eight hundred twenty eight (828) M830A1 HEAT Rounds.
Non-MDE: Also included are sixteen (16) M1000 Heavy
Equipment Transporter (HET) Semi-Trailers; sixty four (64)
Export Single Channel Ground and Airborne Radio System
(SINCGARS); one hundred eight (108) AN/PSN-13A Defense
Advanced Global Positioning System (GPS) Receiver (DAGR) with
Selective-Availability/Anti-Spoofing Module (SAASM); one
hundred thirty eight (138) AN/VAS-5B Driver Vision Enhancer
(DVE-A) Kits; one hundred eight (108) M250 Smoke Grenade
Launchers; fourteen (14) M239 Smoke Grenade Launchers; seven
thousand eight hundred sixty-two (7,862) KEW-A1 Rounds; one
thousand nine hundred sixty six (1,966) CA38--Cartridge,
120MM Canister Round; eight hundred sixty four (864) M76
(G826) or L8Al/L8A3 (G815) Smoke Grenade Rounds; eight
hundred twenty eight (828) Insensitive Munitions High
Explosive Tracer (IMHE-T) rounds; twenty two (22) sets Dummy
CTG, 120mm Armor-Piercing, Fin-Stabilized, Discarding Sabot
(CA64); twenty two (22) Dummy Cartridge 120mm Canister M1028;
twenty two (22) Dummy M865 TPCSPS-T (C785); FMS export armor;
Hunter/Killer technology, Commander's Independent Thermal
Viewer (CITV); Common Remotely Operated Weapon Station-Low
Profile (CROWS-LP); spare parts; support equipment; AGT-1500
tank engines and X-1100 tank transmissions; depot level
support; Government-Furnished Equipment (GFE); repair parts;
communication support equipment; communication equipment
integration; tools and test equipment; training; training
simulators; repair and return program; U.S. Government and
contractor engineering, technical, and logistics support
services; Technical Assistance Field Team (TAFT); and other
related elements of logistics and program support.
Additionally, the following recommended basic load ammunition
may be included upon request from customer: One hundred
fifteen thousand four hundred (115,400) A576 Cartridge, .50
Caliber Linked 4 API/API-T F/M2; one thousand eighty (1,080)
G815--Grenade, Smoke Screening L8Al/A3; two million four
hundred sixty two thousand four hundred (2,462,400) A131--
Cartridge 7.62MM 4 BALL 1 TRACER; one million two hundred
thirty-one thousand two hundred (1,231,200) Al11--Cartridge,
7.62mm Blank M82 Linked; one thousand five hundred twelve
(1,512) A541--50 Armor Piercing Incendiary, Tracer M20 F/M2;
ninety one thousand eight hundred (91,800) A557--Cartridge,
.50 Caliber 4 Ball/1 Tracer Linked M33 F/M2; fifty four
thousand (54,000) A598--Cartridge, .50 Caliber Blank F/M2
(MILES); and four thousand nine hundred sixty eight (4,968)
AA38--Cartridge, .50 Caliber M962 (SLAP); and other related
elements of logistics and program support.
(iv) Military Department: Army (TW-B-ZCT).
(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: July 8, 2019.
* As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control
Act.
policy justification
Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States
(TECRO)--M1A2T Abrams Tanks and Related Equipment and Support
TECRO has requested to buy one hundred eight (108) M1A2T
Abrams Tanks; one hundred twenty-two (122) M2 Chrysler Mount
Machine Guns; two hundred sixteen (216) M240 Machine Guns;
fourteen (14) M88A2 HERCULES Vehicles; sixteen (16) M1070A1
Heavy Equipment Transporters (HET); five hundred seventy-two
(572) M1002 TPMP-T1 Rounds; three hundred fifty-nine (359)
M831A1 HEAT Rounds; and six hundred twenty-one (621) M865
TPCSPS-T2 Rounds, and eight hundred twenty eight (828) M830A1
HEAT Rounds. Also included are sixteen (16) M1000 Heavy
Equipment Transporter (HET) Semi-Trailers; sixty four (64)
Export Single Channel Ground and Airborne Radio; System
(SINCGARS); one hundred eight (108) AN/PSN-13A Defense
Advanced; Global Positioning System (GPS) Receiver (DAGR)
with Selective-Availability/Anti-Spoofing Module (SAASM); one
hundred thirty eight (138); AN/VAS-5B Driver Vision Enhancer
(DVE-A) Kits; one hundred eight (108); M250 Smoke Grenade
Launchers; fourteen (14) M239 Smoke Grenade Launchers; seven
thousand eight hundred sixty two (7,862) KEW-A1 Rounds; one
thousand nine hundred sixty six (1,966) CA38--Cartridge,
120MM Canister Round; eight hundred sixty four (864) M76
(G826) or L8A1/L8A3 (G815) Smoke Grenade Rounds; eight
hundred twenty eight (828) Insensitive Munitions High
Explosive Tracer (IMHE-T) rounds; twenty two (22) sets Dummy
CTG, 120mm Armor-Piercing, Fin-Stabilized, Discarding Sabot
(CA64); twenty two (22) Dummy Cartridge 120mm Canister M1028;
twenty two (22) Dummy M865 TPCSPS-T (C785); FMS export armor;
Hunter/Killer technology, Commander's Independent Thermal
Viewer (CITV); Common Remotely Operated Weapon Station-Low
Profile (CROWS-LP); spare parts; support equipment; AGT-1500
tank engines and X-1100 tank transmissions; depot level
support; Government-Furnished Equipment (GFE);
[[Page S4694]]
repair parts; communication support equipment; communication
equipment integration; tools and test equipment; training;
training simulators; repair and return program; U.S.
Government and contractor engineering, technical, and
logistics support services; Technical Assistance Field Team
(TAFT); and other related elements of logistics and program
support. Additionally, the following recommended basic load
ammunition may be included upon request from customer: One
hundred fifteen thousand four hundred (115,400) A576
Cartridge, .50 Caliber Linked 4 API/API-T F/M2; one thousand
eighty (1,080) G815--Grenade, Smoke Screening L8A1/A3; two
million four hundred sixty two thousand four hundred
(2,462,400) A131--Cartridge 7.62MM 4 BALL 1 TRACER; one
million two hundred thirty-one thousand two hundred
(1,231,200) A111--Cartridge, 7.62mm Blank M82 Linked; one
thousand five hundred twelve (1,512) A541--50 Armor Piercing
Incendiary, Tracer M20 F/M2; ninety one thousand eight
hundred (91,800) A557--Cartridge, .50 Caliber 4 Ball/1 Tracer
Linked M33 F/M2; fifty four thousand (54,000) A598--
Cartridge, .50 Caliber Blank F/M2 (MILES); and four thousand
nine hundred sixty eight (4,968) AA38--Cartridge, .50 Caliber
M962 (SLAP); and other related elements of logistics and
program support. The total estimated program cost is $2.00
billion.
This proposed sale is consistent with U.S. law and policy
as expressed in Public Law 96-8.
This proposed sale serves U.S. national, economic, and
security interests by supporting the recipient's continuing
efforts to modernize its armed forces and to maintain a
credible defensive capability. The proposed sale will help
improve the security of the recipient and assist in
maintaining political stability, military balance, and
economic progress in the region.
This proposed sale of M1A2 tanks will contribute to the
modernization of the recipient's main battle tank fleet,
enhancing its ability to meet current and future regional
threats and to strengthen its homeland defense. These tanks
will contribute to the recipient's goal of updating its
military capability while further enhancing interoperability
with the United States and other allies. The recipient will
have no difficulty absorbing this equipment into its armed
forces.
The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not
alter the basic military balance in the region.
The M1A2T tank prime contractor will be General Dynamics
Land Systems, Sterling Heights, Michigan. Production will be
at Anniston Army Depot, Anniston, Alabama, and the Joint
Systems Manufacturing Center, Lima, Ohio. The M88A2 recovery
vehicle prime contractor will be BAE, York, Pennsylvania. The
M1070A1 Heavy Equipment Transporter (HET) prime contractor
will be Oshkosh, Oshkosh, Wisconsin. There are no known
offset agreements proposed. However, the purchaser typically
requests offsets. Any offset agreement will be defined in
negotiations between the purchaser and the contractor.
Implementation of this proposed sale will require annual
trips to the recipient involving up to 30 U.S. Government and
15 contractor representatives for a period of up to six years
to manage the fielding and training for the program.
There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness
as a result of this proposed sale.
transmittal no. 19-22
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. Thermal Imaging System (TIS). The TIS is a target
acquisition system which, when operated with other tank
systems, gives the tank crew a substantial advantage over the
adversary. The TIS provides the gunner and commander with the
ability to effectively aim and fire the tank main armament
system under a broad range of adverse battlefield conditions.
The Hunter/Killer technology provides the commander the
ability to search for and acquire targets while the gunner
engages priority targets. The hardware itself is
UNCLASSIFIED. The engineering design and manufacturing data
associated with the detector and infrared (IR) optics and
coatings are considered sensitive. The technical data package
is UNCLASSIFIED with the exception of the specifications for
target acquisition range (CONFIDENTIAL), nuclear hardening
(CONFIDENTIAL, restricted data) and laser hardening (SECRET).
2. Special Armor. Major components of special armor are
fabricated in sealed modules and in serialized removable
subassemblies. Special armor vulnerability data for both
chemical and kinetic energy rounds are classified SECRET.
Engineering design and manufacturing data related to special
armor are also classified SECRET.
3. AGT 1500 Gas Turbine Propulsion System. The use of a gas
turbine propulsion system in the MIA2T Abrams tank is a
unique application of armored vehicle power pack technology.
The AGT-1500 engine and X-1100 transmission are not
classified. Manufacturing processes associated with the
production of turbine blades, recuperator, bearings and
shafts, and hydrostatic pump and motor, are proprietary and
therefore are commercially competition sensitive.
4. Compartmentation. A major survivability feature of the
Abrams Tank is the compartmentation of fuel and ammunition.
Compartmentation is the positive separation of the crew and
critical components from combustible materials so that in the
event the fuel or ammunition ignites or is detonated by an
incoming round, the crew is fully protected. As demonstrated
during the Abram Live Fire tests, compartmentation
significantly enhances crew survivability and substantially
reduces the likelihood of the tank being immobilized by an
ammunition explosion and fire. Sensitive information (SBU)
includes the performance of the ammunition compartments as
well as the compartment design parameters.
5. The CROWS-LP (M153A2El) is a commander's weapon station.
It allows for under armor operation of weapons--M2HB, M2Al,
M240B and M240. The CROWS-LP is an updated version of the
M153A2 CROWS and is approximately 10 inches lower in height.
The CROWS-LP increases crew visibility over the weapon
station. The fire control system of the CROWS-LP allows an
operator to fire on a target from either a stationary or
moving platform. The CROWS-LP integrates a day camera (VIM-
C), thermal camera (TIM 1500) and laser range finder (STORM/
STORM-PI) is UNCLASSIFIED.
6. M76 Infra-Red (IR) Grenade. The M76 InfraRed (IR)
grenade is UNCLASSIFIED but sensitive. The grenade uses a
brass particle fill that is specifically designed, when
shattered by a high explosive shock wave, to disperse in a
cloud of specific sized particles. These particles obscure
the visual through the far infrared portions of the
electromagnetic spectrum. As a result, this grenade defeats
night sights, thermal viewers, laser designators, laser
rangefinders, and any other equipment that relies on visual
or infrared active or passive technologies. The properties of
the brass fill are easily reverse engineered, and therefore
could be used to defeat U.S. imaging and targeting systems on
the battlefield. The highest level of information that could
be transferred with the sale of this round is UNCLASSIFIED.
7. 120mm Kinetic Energy-Tungsten (KE-W) ammunition. This is
a commercially developed item and is not warranted by the US
Government. All components of the cartridge, 120mm Kinetic
Energy-Tungsten are UNCLASSIFIED. The capabilities of this
cartridge, to include the terminal effects, target impact
dispersion, and armor defeating capabilities, are classified
CONFIDENTIAL, except for armor penetration test results
against Special Armored Targets, which are classified SECRET,
or the same level of classification as the target, whichever
is greater. The tungsten processing and penetrator
manufacturing methods are sensitive data. No technological
information regarding the tungsten penetrator material will
be supplied with the cartridges being considered for foreign
military sales. The highest level of information that could
be transferred with the sale of this round is UNCLASSIFIED.
8. If a technologically advanced adversary were to obtain
knowledge of the hardware and software elements, the
information could be used to develop countermeasures or
equivalent systems which might reduce system effectiveness or
he used in the development of a system with similar or
advanced capabilities.
9. A determination has been made that the recipient 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.
10. All defense articles and services listed in this
transmittal have been authorized for release and export to
the recipient.
____________________