[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 187 (Thursday, November 21, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6748-S6749]
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.
[[Page S6749]]
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. 19-67
concerning the Navy's proposed Letter(s) of Offer and
Acceptance to the Government of Australia for defense
articles and services estimated to cost $245 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. 19-67
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: Australia.
(ii) Total Estimated Value:
Major Defense Equipment * $ 0 million.
Other $245 million.
Total $245 million.
(iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or
Services under Consideration for Purchase:
Major Defense Equipment (MDE):
None.
Non-MDE: Up to eight hundred fifty (850) Joint Counter
Radio-Controlled Improvised Explosive Device Electronic
Warfare Increment 1 Block 1 (JCREW 11B1) Systems (533 vehicle
mounted and 317 dismounted); spare and repair parts; support
and test equipment; technical exchanges, publications and
technical documentation; support equipment; engineering
change proposals; classified software/loadsets; training;
U.S. Government and contractor engineering, technical and
logistics support services; and other related elements of
logistics support.
(iv) Military Department: Navy (AT-P-LGA).
(v) Prior Related Cases, if any: AT-P-LFX.
(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: November 20,
2019.
* As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control
Act.
POLICY JUSTIFICATION
Australia--JCREW Systems and Support
The Government of Australia has requested to buy up to
eight hundred fifty (850) Joint Counter Radio-Controlled
Improvised Explosive Device Electronic Warfare Increment 1
Block 1 (JCREW 11B1) Systems (533 vehicle mounted and 317
dismounted); spare and repair parts; support and test
equipment; technical exchanges, publications and technical
documentation; support equipment; engineering change
proposals; classified software/loadsets; training; U.S.
Government and contractor engineering, technical and
logistics support services; and other related elements of
logistics support. The total estimated cost is $245 million.
This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and
national security objectives of the United States. Australia
is one of our most important allies in the Western Pacific.
The strategic location of this political and economic power
contributes significantly to ensuring peace and economic
stability in the region.
The proposed sale will provide Australia increased force
protection from Radio-Controlled Improvised Explosive Device
threats for its defense forces and vehicles. Australia is
interested in procuring the dismounted and mounted variants
that have a modular, open architecture and are upgradeable in
order to maintain capability against evolving global threats.
Australia 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 principal contractor will be Northrop Grumman
Corporation, San Diego, California. There are no known offset
agreements 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. 19-67
Notice of Proposed Issuance of Letter of Offer Pursuant to
Section 36(b)(l) of the Arms Export Control Act
Annex Item No. vii
(vii) Sensitivity of Technology:
1. Australia's requirement for 850 JCREW I1Bl systems could
potentially include:
(1) Expeditionary Warfare, Force Protection, (2) Techniques
for the Defeat of Radio Controlled Improvised Explosive
Devices, (3) Force Protection, Counter Unmanned Aircraft
Systems, (4) Capabilities and Limitations of Electronic
Warfare Systems, and, (5) Threat Assessment from Radio
Controlled Improvised Explosive Devices.
2. The Counter Radio-Controlled Improvised Explosive Device
Electronic Warfare technical insertion development may
contain sensitive technology; however, defined requirements
are not known at this time and will be assessed on a case-by-
case basis.
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
proposed sale is necessary to further the U.S. foreign policy
and national security objectives outlined in the Policy
Justification.
4. All defense articles and services listed on this
transmittal have been authorized for release and export to
the Government of Australia.
____________________