[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.

                          ____________________