[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.

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