[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 155 (Wednesday, September 25, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5701-S5702]
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. 19-47
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 $86 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. 19-47
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 * $17 million.
Other $69 million.
Total $86 million.
(iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or
Services under Consideration for Purchase: Qatar requested a
possible sale of two (2) AN/AAQ-24(V)N Large Aircraft
Infrared Countermeasures (LAIRCM) systems to protect two (2)
Boeing 747-800 Head-of-State aircraft. Each LAIRCM system
consists of three (3) Guardian Laser Turret Assemblies
(GLTA), one (1) LAIRCM System Processor Replacement (LSPR),
five (5) Missile Warning Sensors (MWS), one (1) Control
Indicator Unit Replacement (CIUR), one (1) Smart Card
Assembly (SCA), and one (1) High Capacity Card (HCC/User Data
Memory (UDM) card.
Major Defense Equipment (MDE):
Twelve (12) Guardian Laser Turret Assemblies (GLTA) (6
installed, 6 spares).
Seven (7) LAIRCM System Processor Replacements (LSPR) (2
installed, 5 spares).
Twenty-three (23) Missile Warning Sensors (MWS) (10
installed, 13 spares).
Non-MDE: Also included are LAIRCM CIURs; SCAs; HCCs; UDM
cards; initial spares; consumables; repair and return
support; support equipment; engineering design; integration;
hardware integration; flight test and certifications;
selective availability anti-spoofing modules (SAASM);
publications and technical documentation; training and
training equipment; field service representatives; U.S.
Government and contractor engineering, technical, and
logistics support; and other related elements of logistics
and program support.
(iv) Military Department: Air Force (QA-D-BAB).
(v) Prior Related Cases, if any: QA-D-QAA and QA-D-QAF.
(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: September 24,
2019.
* As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control
Act.
POLICY JUSTIFICATION
Qatar--Large Aircraft Infrared Countermeasures (LAIRCM) System for
Head-of-State Aircraft
The Government of Qatar has requested to buy two AN/AAQ-
24(V)N Large Aircraft Infrared Countermeasures (LAIRCM)
systems to protect two (2) 747-800 Head-of-State aircraft.
This proposed sale will include: twelve (12) Guardian Laser
Turret Assemblies (GLTA) (6 installed, 6 spares); seven (7)
LAIRCM System Processor Replacements (LSPR) (2 installed 5
spares); twenty-three (23) Missile Warning Sensors (MWS) (10
installed, 13 spares); Control Indicator Unit Replacements
(CIURs); Smart Card Assemblies (SCAs); High Capacity Cards
(HCCs); User Data Memory (UDM) cards; initial spares;
consumables; repair and return support; support equipment;
engineering design; integration; hardware integration; flight
test and certifications; selective availability anti-spoofing
modules (SAASM); publications and technical documentation;
training and training equipment; field service
representatives; U.S. Government and contractor engineering,
technical, and logistics support; and other related elements
of logistics and program support. The estimated cost is $86
million.
This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and
national security of the United States by helping to improve
the security of a friendly country that continues to be an
important force for political and economic progress in the
Middle East. Qatar is host to the U.S. Central Command forces
and serves as a critical forward-deployed location in the
region.
The proposed sale will improve Qatar's capability to deter
regional threats. The self-protection suite will facilitate a
more robust capability into areas of increased missile
threats. Qatar will have no difficulty absorbing this
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 Northrop Grumman, Rolling
Meadows, IL. There are no known offset agreements proposed in
connection with this potential sale.
Implementation of this proposed sale may require the
assignment of a U.S. Government and/or contractor
representatives to Qatar to provide the field service support
as requested.
There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness
as a result of this proposed sale.
[[Page S5702]]
Transmittal No. 19-47
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 AN/AAQ-24(V)N LAIRCM is a self-contained, directed
energy countermeasures system designed to protect aircraft
from infrared-guided surface-to-air missiles. The system
features digital technology and micro-miniature solid-state
electronics. The system operates in all conditions, detecting
incoming missiles and jamming infrared-seeker equipped
missiles with aimed bursts of laser energy. The LAIRCM system
consists of multiple Missile Warning Sensors, Guardian Laser
Turret Assembly (GLTA), LAIRCM System Processor Replacement
(LSPR), Control Indicator Unit Replacement (CIUR), and a
classified User Data Memory (UDM) card containing the laser
jam codes. The UDM card is loaded into the LSPR prior to
flight; when not in use, the UDM card is removed from the
LSRP and put in secure storage. The Missile Warning Sensors
(MWS) for AN/AAQ-24(V)N are mounted on the aircraft exterior
to provide omni-directional protection. The MWS detects the
rocket plume of missiles and sends appropriate data signals
to the LSPR for processing. The LSPR analyzes the data from
each sensor and automatically deploys the appropriate
countermeasure via the GLTA. The CIUR displays the incoming
threat for the pilot to take appropriate action. The LSPR
also contains Built-in-Test (BIT) circuitry. LAIRCM hardware
is CLASSIFIED only when a classified UDM card is inserted
into the system and it is powered up. LAIRCM system software,
including Operational Flight Program and jam codes, are
classified SECRET. Technical data and documentation to be
provided is UNCLASSIFIED.
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 Qatar 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 Qatar.
____________________