[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 5 (Thursday, January 9, 2020)]
[Senate]
[Pages S121-S122]
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)(I) of the Arms Export Control Act, as 
     amended, we are forwarding herewith Transmittal No. 20-06 
     concerning the Air Force's proposed Letter(s) of Offer and 
     Acceptance to the Government of Singapore for defense 
     articles and services estimated to cost $2.750 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. 20-06

     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 Singapore.
       (ii) Total Estimated Value:
       Major Defense Equipment* $1.625 billion.
       Other $1.125 billion.
       Total $2.750 billion.
       (iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or 
     Services under Consideration for Purchase:
       Major Defense Equipment (MDE):
       Up to twelve (12) F-35B Short Take-Off and Vertical Landing 
     (STOVL) Aircraft (Four (4) F-35B STOVL Aircraft with the 
     option to purchase an additional Eight (8) F-35B STOVL 
     Aircraft).
       Up to thirteen (13) Pratt and Whitney F135 Engines 
     (includes 1 initial spare).
       Non-MDE: Also included are Electronic Warfare Systems; 
     Command, Control, Communication, Computers and Intelligence/
     Communication, Navigation and Identification (C4I/CNI) 
     system; Autonomic Logistics Global Support System (ALGS); 
     Autonomic Logistics Information System (ALIS); F-35 Training 
     System; Weapons Employment Capability and other Subsystems, 
     Features and Capabilities; F-35 unique infrared flares; 
     reprogramming center access and F-35 Performance Based 
     Logistics; software development/integration; aircraft 
     transport from Ft. Worth, TX to the CONUS initial training 
     base and tanker support (if necessary); spare and repair 
     parts; support equipment, tools and test equipment; technical 
     data and publications; personnel training and training 
     equipment; U.S. Government and contractor engineering, 
     technical, and logistics support services; and other related 
     elements of logistics support.
       (iv) Military Department: Air Force (SN-D-SAE).
       (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: January 9, 2020.
       *As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control 
     Act.


                          policy justification

      Singapore--F-35B Short Take-Off and Vertical Landing (STOVL)

       The Government of Singapore has requested to buy up to 
     twelve (12) F-35B Short Take-Off and Vertical Landing (STOVL) 
     aircraft (four (4) F-35B STOVL aircraft with the option to 
     purchase an additional eight (8) F-35B STOVL aircraft); and 
     up to thirteen (13) Pratt and Whitney F135 Engines (includes 
     1 initial spare). Also included are Electronic Warfare 
     Systems; Command, Control, Communication, Computers and 
     Intelligence/Communication, Navigation and Identification 
     (C4I/CNI) system; Autonomic Logistics Global Support System 
     (ALGS); Autonomic Logistics Information System (ALIS); F-35 
     Training System; Weapons Employment Capability and other 
     Subsystems, Features and Capabilities; F-35 unique infrared 
     flares; reprogramming center access and F-35 Performance 
     Based Logistics; software development/integration; aircraft 
     transport from Ft. Worth, TX to the CONUS initial training 
     base and tanker support (if necessary); spare and repair 
     parts; support equipment, tools and test equipment; technical 
     data and publications; personnel training and training 
     equipment; U.S. Government and contractor engineering, 
     technical, and logistics support services; and other related 
     elements of logistics support. The total estimated cost is 
     $2.750 billion.
       This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and 
     national security objectives of the United States. Singapore 
     is a strategic friend and Major Security Cooperation Partner 
     and an important force for political stability and economic 
     progress in the Asia Pacific region.
       This proposed sale of F-35s will augment Singapore's 
     operational aircraft inventory and enhance its air-to-air and 
     air-to-ground self-defense capability, adding to an effective 
     deterrence to defend its borders and contribute to coalition 
     operations with other allied and partner forces. Singapore 
     will have no difficulty absorbing these aircraft into its 
     armed forces.

[[Page S122]]

       The proposed sale of this aircraft and support will not 
     alter the basic military balance in the region.
       The prime contractors will be Lockheed Martin Aeronautics 
     Company, Fort Worth, Texas, and Pratt and Whitney Military 
     Engines, East Hartford, Connecticut. 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 contactor 
     representatives to Singapore.
       There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness 
     as a result of this proposed sale.


                         Transmittal No. 20-06

     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 F-35B Short Take-Off and Vertical Landing (STOVL) 
     aircraft is a single-seat, single-engine, all-weather, 
     stealth, fifth-generation, multirole aircraft. It contains 
     sensitive technology including the low observable airframe/
     outer mold line, the Pratt and Whitney F135 engine, AN/APG-81 
     radar, an integrated core processor central computer, mission 
     systems/electronic warfare suite, a multiple sensor suite, 
     technical data/documentation, and associated software. 
     Sensitive elements of the F-35B are also included in 
     operational flight and maintenance trainers.
       a. The Pratt and Whitney F135 engine is a single 40,000-lb 
     thrust class engine designed for the F-35 and assures highly 
     reliable, affordable performance. The engine is designed to 
     be utilized in all F-35 variants, providing unmatched 
     commonality and supportability throughout the worldwide base 
     of F-35 users. The Short Takeoff and Vertical Landing (STOVL) 
     propulsion configuration consists of the main engine, 
     diverter-less supersonic inlet, a three (3) Bearing Swivel 
     Module, Roll Posts and Duct Assembly System, and Lift Fan.
       b. The AN/APG-81 Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) 
     is a high processing power/high transmission power electronic 
     array capable of detecting air and ground targets from a 
     greater distance than mechanically scanned array radars. It 
     also contains a synthetic aperture radar (SAR), which creates 
     high-resolution ground maps and provides weather data to the 
     pilot, and provides air and ground tracks to the mission 
     system, which uses it as a component to fuse sensor data.
       c. The Electro-Optical Targeting System (EOTS) provides 
     long-range detection and tracking as well as an infrared 
     search and track (IRST) and forward-looking infrared (FLIR) 
     capability for precision tracking, weapons delivery, and bomb 
     damage assessment (BDA). The EOTS replaces multiple separate 
     internal or podded systems typically found on legacy 
     aircraft.
       d. The Electro-Optical Distributed Aperture System (EODAS) 
     provides the pilot with full spherical coverage for air-to-
     air and air-to-ground threat awareness, day/night vision 
     enhancements, a fire control capability, and precision 
     tracking of wingmen/friendly aircraft. The EODAS provides 
     data directly to the pilot's helmet as well as the mission 
     system.
       e. The Electronic Warfare (EW) system is a reprogrammable, 
     integrated system that provides radar warning and electronic 
     support measures (ESM) along with a fully integrated 
     countermeasures (CM) system. The EW system is the primary 
     subsystem used to enhance situational awareness, targeting 
     support and self-defense through the search, intercept, 
     location, and identification of in-band emitters and to 
     automatically counter TR and RF threats.
       f. The Command, Control, Communications, Computers and 
     Intelligence/Communications, Navigation, and Identification 
     (C4I/CNI) system provides the pilot with unmatched 
     connectivity to flight members, coalition forces, and the 
     battlefield. It is an integrated subsystem designed to 
     provide a broad spectrum of secure, anti-jam voice and data 
     communications, precision radio navigation and landing 
     capability, self-identification, beyond visual range target 
     identification, and connectivity to off-board sources of 
     information. It also includes an inertial navigation and 
     global positioning system (GPS) for precise location 
     information. The functionality is tightly integrated within 
     the mission system to enhance efficiency.
       g. The aircraft C4I/CNI system includes two data links, the 
     Multi-Function Advanced Data Link (MADL) and Link 16. The 
     MADL is designed specifically for the F-35 and allows for 
     stealthy communications between F-35s. Link 16 data link 
     equipment allows the F-35 to communicate with legacy aircraft 
     using widely distributed J-series message protocols.
       h. The F-35 Autonomic Logistics Global Sustainment (ALGS) 
     provides a fully integrated logistics management solution. 
     ALGS integrates a number of functional areas including supply 
     chain management, repair, support equipment, engine support, 
     and training. The ALGS infrastructure employs a state-of-the-
     art information system that provides real-time, decision-
     worthy information for sustainment decisions by flight line 
     personnel. Prognostic health monitoring technology is 
     integrated with the air system and is crucial to predictive 
     maintenance of vital components.
       i. The F-35 Autonomic Logistics Information System (ALIS) 
     provides an intelligent information infrastructure that binds 
     all the key concepts of ALGS into an effective support 
     system. ALIS establishes the appropriate interfaces among the 
     F-35 Air Vehicle, the warfighter, the training system, 
     government information technology (IT) systems, and 
     supporting commercial enterprise systems. Additionally, ALIS 
     provides a comprehensive tool for data collection and 
     analysis, decision support, and action tracking.
       j. The F-35 Training System includes several training 
     devices to provide integrated training for pilots and 
     maintainers. The pilot training devices include a Full 
     Mission Simulator (FMS) and Deployable Mission Rehearsal 
     Trainer (DMRT). The maintainer training devices include an 
     Aircraft Systems Maintenance Trainer (ASMT), Ejection System 
     Maintenance Trainer (ESMT), Outer Mold Line (OML) Lab, 
     Flexible Linear Shaped Charge (FLSC) Trainer, Fl35 Engine 
     Module Trainer, and Weapons Loading Trainer (WLT). The F-35 
     Training System can be integrated, where both pilots and 
     maintainers learn in the same Integrated Training Center 
     (ITC). Alternatively, the pilots and maintainers can train in 
     separate facilities (Pilot Training Center and Maintenance 
     Training Center).
       k. Other subsystems, features, and capabilities include the 
     F-35's low observable airframe, Integrated Cure Processor 
     (ICP) Central Computer, Helmet Mounted Display System (HMDS), 
     Pilot Life Support System, Off-Board Mission Support (OMS) 
     System, and publications/maintenance manuals. The HMDS 
     provides a fully sunlight readable, bi-ocular display 
     presentation of aircraft information projected onto the 
     pilot's helmet visor. The use of a night vision camera 
     integrated into the helmet eliminates the need for separate 
     Night Vision Goggles (NVG). The Pilot Life Support System 
     provides a measure of Pilot Chemical, Biological, and 
     Radiological Protection through use of an On-Board Oxygen 
     Generating System (OBOGS); and an escape system that provides 
     additional protection to the pilot. OBOGS takes the Power and 
     Thermal Management System (PTMS) air and enriches it by 
     removing gases (mainly nitrogen) by adsorption, thereby 
     increasing the concentration of oxygen in the product gas and 
     supplying breathable air to the pilot. The OMS provides a 
     mission planning, mission briefing, and a maintenance/
     intelligence/tactical debriefing platform for the F-35.
       2. The Reprogramming Center is located in the U.S. and 
     provides F-35 customers a means to update F-35 electronic 
     warfare databases.
       3. If a technologically advanced adversary were to obtain 
     knowledge of the specific hardware and software elements, the 
     information could be used to develop countermeasures, which 
     might reduce weapon system effectiveness or be used in the 
     development of a system with similar or advanced 
     capabilities.
       4. A determination has been made that Singapore 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. Moreover, the benefits to be derived from this 
     sale, as outlined in the Policy Justification, outweigh the 
     potential damage that could result if the sensitive 
     technology were revealed to unauthorized persons.
       5. All defense articles and services listed on this 
     transmittal have been authorized for release and export to 
     the Government of Singapore.

                          ____________________