[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.
____________________