[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 10 (Thursday, January 16, 2020)]
[Senate]
[Pages S269-S271]
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. 19-66
concerning the Navy's proposed Letter(s) of Offer and
Acceptance to the Government of Australia for defense
articles and services estimated to cost $1.50 billion. After
this letter is delivered to your office, we plan
[[Page S270]]
to issue a news release to notify the public of this proposed
sale.
Sincerely,
Charles W. Hooper,
Lieutenant General, USA, Director.
Enclosures.
Transmittal No. 19-66
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 Australia.
(ii) Total Estimated Value:
Major Defense Equipment * $.50 billion.
Other $1.00 billion.
Total $1.50 billion.
(iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or
Services under Consideration for Purchase: The Government of
Australia has requested to buy long lead items, engineering
development activities, and other defense services to support
the Australian Surface Combatant Program, including the
modernization of three Hobart Class Destroyers, and
construction of the first three (of nine total) Hunter Class
Frigates.
Major Defense Equipment (MDE):
Three (3) Shipsets of the AEGIS Weapon System (AWS) in the
MK 6 Mod 1 configuration to support the Modernization of the
Hobart Class DDGs, including: AEGIS Combat System Support
Equipment (ACSSE); Weapon Data Recording Cabinet (WDRC)
equipment; Multi-Mission Signal Processor (MMSP-R) equipment;
Network, Processing and Storage (NPS) equipment; Consoles
Displays and Peripherals (CDP) equipment; Embedded Training
System (ETS); Kill Assessment System (KAS); and Shipboard
Gridlock System (SGS).
Three (3) Shipsets of the AEGIS Weapon System (AWS) in the
MK 6 Mod I configuration to support the New Construction of
the Hunter Class FFGs, including AEGIS Combat System Support
Equipment (ACSSE); Electronic Equipment Fluid Cooler (EEFC)
equipment; and Network, Processing and Storage (NPS)
equipment; and Consoles Displays and Peripherals (CDP)
equipment; Shipboard Gridlock System (SGS); Embedded Training
System (ETS) and AN/SPQ-15 equipment.
Three (3) shipsets of the MK 41 Vertical Launching Systems
(VLS) for installation on the Hunter Class Frigates;
Three (3) shipsets (2 mounts per ship) of the Close-In
Weapons System (CIWS) for installation on the Hunter Class
Frigates;
Two (2) Australia AEGIS Weapon System Computer Programs
(one for Hobart Class, one for Hunter Class), and associated
computer programs for AEGIS Combat System components for
installation on both the Hobart and Hunter Class ships;
Six (6) shipsets of the Global Positioning System (GPS)--
Based Positioning, Navigation and Timing Service (GPNTS)
Navigation Systems and associated Advanced Digital Antenna
Production (ADAP) antennas and support equipment for
installation on the Hobart and Hunter Class ships;
Six (6) shipsets of upgraded Cooperative Engagement
Capability (CEC) equipment for installation on the Hobart and
Hunter Class ships;
Six (6) shipsets of Command and Control Processor (C2P)
equipment for installation on the Hobart and Hunter Class
ships;
Eight (8) shipsets of Multifunctional Information
Distribution System Joint Tactical Radio Set (MIDS JTRS)
terminals for installation on the Hobart and Hunter Class
ships.
Non-MDE:
Also included are:
Three (3) shipsets of MK 34 Gun Weapon System (GWS)
modification equipment to include the Electro Optical Sight
System and changes supporting Naval Fires Planner and
associated TacLink Control System for installation on the
Hobart Class Destroyers;
Three (3) shipsets of MK 34 Gun Weapon System components to
include the MK 160 Gun Computing System and the MK 20 Electro
Optical Sight System, and the Naval Fires Planner and
associated TacLink Control System for installation on the
Hunter Class Frigates;
Three (3) shipsets of: Mode 5/S capable Identification,
Friend of Foe (IFF) Systems; Gigabit Ethernet Data
Multiplexing System (GEDMS); AN/WSN-7 Ring Laser Gyrocompass
Inertial Navigation Systems; WSN-9 Digital Hybrid Speed Log
systems; Common Data Link Management System (CDLMS); and
Global Command and Control System--Maritime (GCCS-M) systems
for installation on the Hunter Class Frigates;
Six (6) shipsets of AN/SRQ-4 Hawklink and SQQ-89 Sonobuoy
processing equipment for installation on the Hobart and
Hunter Class ships;
Defense services for development and integration of a
capability upgrade for the installed AEGIS Combat System on
the Hobart Class Destroyer, including Integrated Air and
Missile Defense capability and growth capability for
Ballistic Missile Defense;
Development, integration and testing support for
installation of a AEGIS Combat System for installation on the
Hunter Class FFG, a Global Combat Ship Type 26 (BAE)
platform, including the integration of the indigenous CEAF AR
2 Phased Array Radar (CEA Industries) with the AEGIS Combat
System (including Cooperative Engagement Capability) and the
primary radar sensor and illuminator;
Integration of selected Australian provided combat system
components including Undersea Warfare and Ship Self Defense
for installation on the Hobart and Hunter Class ships;
Integration of the MH-60R helicopter into the AEGIS Combat
System for installation on the Hobart and Hunter Class ships;
Procurement and delivery of installation support material,
special purpose test equipment, initial logistics outfitting,
spares and other ancillary equipment to support the
installation and integration of AEGIS Combat System equipment
in the Hunter and Hobart class ship platforms;
Development of technical documentation to support both
programs; provision of logistics and other support services
to support the Hobart and Hunter Class ships;
Procurement, staging, delivery and installation support for
AEGIS Combat System equipment for the Hobart and Hunter Class
ships;
Provision of training support for curriculum development,
training tool development, front-end analysis, and crew
training for the Hobart and Hunter Class ships;
U.S. Government and contractor representative engineering,
logistics, and technical support services; and other related
elements of logistics and program support for the Hobart and
Hunter Class ships.
(iv) Military Department: Navy (AT-P-LFZ).
(v) Prior Related Cases, if any: AT-P-LCQ, AT-P-GSU, and
AT-P-GSC.
(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 14, 2020.
*As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control
Act.
POLICY JUSTIFICATION
Australia--Australia Surface Combatant (ASC) Program
The Government of Australia has requested to buy long lead
items, engineering development activities, and other defense
services to support the Australian Surface Combatant Program,
including the modernization of three Hobart Class Destroyers,
and construction of the first three (of nine total) Hunter
Class Frigates which includes: three (3) Shipsets of the
AEGIS Weapon System (AWS) in the MK 6 Mod 1 configuration to
support the Modernization of the Hobart Class DDGs; three (3)
Shipsets of the AEGIS Weapon System (AWS) in the MK 6 Mod 1
configuration to support the New Construction of the Hunter
Class FFGs; three (3) shipsets of the MK 41 Vertical
Launching Systems (VLS) for installation on the Hunter Class
Frigates; three (3) shipsets (2 mounts per ship) of the
Close-In Weapons System (CIWS) for installation on the Hunter
Class Frigates; two (2) Australia AEGIS Weapon System
Computer Programs (one for Hobart Class, one for Hunter
Class), and associated computer programs for AEGIS Combat
System components for installation on both the Hobart and
Hunter Class ships; six (6) shipsets of the Global
Positioning System (GPS)--Based Positioning, Navigation and
Timing Service (GPNTS) Navigation Systems and associated
Advanced Digital Antenna Production (ADAP) antennas and
support equipment for installation on the Hobart and Hunter
Class ships; six (6) shipsets of upgraded Cooperative
Engagement Capability (CEC) equipment for installation on the
Hobart and Hunter Class ships; six (6) shipsets of Command
and Control Processor (C2P) equipment for installation on the
Hobart and Hunter Class ships; and eight (8) shipsets of
Multifunctional Information Distribution System Joint
Tactical Radio Set (MIDS JTRS) terminals for installation on
the Hobart and Hunter Class ships. Also included are: three
(3) shipsets of MK 34 Gun Weapon System (GWS) modification
equipment to include the Electro Optical Sight System and
changes supporting Naval Fires Planner and associated TacLink
Control System for installation on the Hobart Class
Destroyers; three (3) shipsets of MK 34 Gun Weapon System
components to include the MK 160 Gun Computing System and the
MK 20 Electro Optical Sight System, and the Naval Fires
Planner and associated TacLink Control System for
installation on the Hunter Class Frigates; three (3) shipsets
of: Mode 5/S capable Identification, Friend of Foe (IFF)
Systems; Gigabit Ethernet Data Multiplexing System (GEDMS);
AN/WSN-7 Ring Laser Gyrocompass Inertial Navigation Systems;
WSN-9 Digital Hybrid Speed Log systems; Common Data Link
Management System (CDLMS); and Global Command and Control
System-Maritime (GCCS-M) systems for installation on the
Hunter Class Frigates; six (6) shipsets of AN/SRQ-4 Hawklink
and SQQ-89 Sonobuoy processing equipment for installation on
the Hobart and Hunter Class ships; defense services for
development and integration of a capability upgrade for the
installed AEGIS Combat System on the Hobart Class Destroyer,
including Integrated Air and Missile Defense capability and
growth capability for Ballistic Missile Defense; development,
integration and testing support for installation of a AEGIS
Combat System for installation on the Hunter Class FFG, a
Global Combat Ship Type 26 (BAE) platform, including the
integration of the indigenous CEAF AR 2 Phased Array Radar
(CEA Industries) with the AEGIS Combat System (including
Cooperative Engagement Capability) and the primary radar
sensor and illuminator; integration of selected Australian
provided combat system components including Undersea Warfare
and Ship Self Defense for installation on the Hobart and
Hunter Class ships; integration of the MH-60R helicopter into
the AEGIS Combat System for installation on the Hobart and
Hunter Class ships; Procurement and delivery of
[[Page S271]]
installation support material, special purpose test
equipment, initial logistics outfitting, spares and other
ancillary equipment to support the installation and
integration of AEGIS Combat System equipment in the Hunter
and Hobart class ship platforms; development of technical
documentation to support both programs; provision of
logistics and other support services to support the Hobart
and Hunter Class ships; procurement, staging, delivery and
installation support for AEGIS Combat System equipment for
the Hobart and Hunter Class ships; provision of training
support for curriculum development, training tool
development, front-end analysis, and crew training for the
Hobart and Hunter Class ships; U.S. Government and contractor
representative engineering, logistics, and technical support
services; and other related elements of logistics and program
support for the Hobart and Hunter Class ships. The total
estimated cost is $1.50 billion.
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 enhance Australia's Surface
Combatant capability by modernizing their existing three
AEGIS capable Hobart Class Destroyers with the latest
technology and capability, and delivering the first three (of
nine) AEGIS capable Hunter Class Future Frigates. This sale
enhances Australia's self-defense capability, while
significantly improving interoperability with U.S. Navy AEGIS
combatants in the region. By deploying a surface combatant
fleet that will incorporate Cooperative Engagement Capability
(CEC), Australia will significantly improve network-centric
warfare capability for US forces operating in the region.
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.
There are a significant number of companies under contract
with the U.S. Navy that will provide components and systems
as well as engineering services during the execution of this
effort, with a significant portion of the effort to be
performed by Lockheed Martin, Rotary and Mission Systems,
Moorestown, NJ. There are no known offset agreements proposed
in connection with this potential sale.
Implementation of this proposed sale will require travel of
U.S. Government and/or contractor representatives to
Australia on a temporary basis for program support and
management oversight. No extended (long-term) visits to
Australia will be required as part of this effort.
There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness
as a result of this proposed sale.
Transmittal No. 19-66
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. This sale involves the procurement of long lead material
and services to support the Australian Surface Combatant
Program. The AEGIS Combat System (ACS) to be procured to
support the modernization of the Hobart Class Destroyers is a
multi-mission combat system providing Integrated Air and
Missile Defense (IAMD) and a growth path to Ballistic Missile
Defense (BMD) capability, derived from USN AEGIS Weapon
System Baseline 9 capability. In addition to shipboard AEGIS
equipment, this proposed sale will provide software,
documentation (including combat system capabilities and
limitations), training devices and services, and other
technical support to ensure the proper installation, testing
and operation of the provided equipment.
2. AEGIS Weapon System simulation software, documentation,
training and study material will be provided a classification
levels up to and including SECRET. Delivery of sensitive
technological information, up to and including SECRET, will
be limited to the minimum level of information required to
progress activities associated with the integration of
indigenous combat system systems into the AEGIS Combat
System. This consists primarily of AEGIS Combat System
requirements and integration information to support early
combat system development activities, in the form of
documentation, simulation software, and technical
specifications. This information is sensitive as it provides
limited insight into AEGIS Combat System capabilities and
requirements--as tailored to the Australian AEGIS Combat
System configurations.
3. The Cooperative Engagement Capability (CEC) is a system
that fuses tracking data from shipboard sensors and
distributes radar measurement data to other platforms with
CEC capability. This data is filtered and combined to create
a common tactical picture, based on available sensor data
from all platforms netted through the CEC system. The
hardware is unclassified with the exception of a
Communications Security (COMSEC) card which is classified
SECRET. The software and documentation are classified SECRET.
All manuals and technical documentation disclosure will be
limited to those necessary for operational use and
organizational maintenance.
4. 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.
5. This sale is necessary in furtherance of the U.S.
foreign policy and national security objectives outlined in
the enclosed Policy Justification. A determination has been
made that Australia can provide the same degree of protection
for the sensitive technology being released as the U.S.
Government.
6. 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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