[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 27 (Monday, February 10, 2020)]
[Senate]
[Pages S955-S956]
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. 20-02 
     concerning the Navy's proposed Letter(s) of Offer and 
     Acceptance to the Government of Australia for defense 
     articles and services estimated to cost $990 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,
                                                Charles W. Hooper,
                                Lieutenant General, USA, Director.
       Enclosures.


                         Transmittal No. 20-02

     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* $690 million.
       Other $300 million.
       Total $990 million.
       (iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or 
     Services under Consideration for Purchase:
       Major Defense Equipment (MDE):
       Up to two hundred (200) AGM-158C, Long Range Anti-Ship 
     Missiles (LRASMs).
       Up to eleven (11) ATM-158C LRASMs Telemetry Variant 
     (Inert).
       Non-MDE: Also included are DATM-158C LRASM, Captive Air 
     Training Missiles (CATM-158C LRASM), containers, support and 
     test equipment, publications and technical documentation, 
     personnel training and training equipment, U.S. Government 
     and contractor representatives technical assistance, 
     engineering and logistics support services, and other related 
     elements of logistics support.
       (iv) Military Department: Navy (AT-P-ANT).
       (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: February 7, 2020.
       *As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control 
     Act.


                          POLICY JUSTIFICATION

           Australia--Long Range Anti-Ship Missiles (LRASMs)

       The Government of Australia has requested to buy up to two 
     hundred (200) AGM-158C, Long Range Anti-Ship Missiles 
     (LRASMs); and up to eleven (11) ATM-158C LRASM Telemetry 
     Variant (Inert). Also included are DATM-158C LRASM, Captive 
     Air Training Missiles (CATM-158C LRASM), containers, support 
     and test equipment, publications and technical documentation, 
     personnel training and training equipment, U.S. Government 
     and contractor representatives technical assistance, 
     engineering and logistics support services, and other related 
     elements of logistics support. The total estimated cost is 
     $990 million.

[[Page S956]]

       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.
       Australia intends to use the missiles on its F-18 aircraft 
     and will provide enhanced capabilities in defense of critical 
     sea-lanes. The proposed sale of the missiles and support will 
     increase the Australian Navy's maritime partnership potential 
     and align its capabilities with existing regional baselines. 
     This is Australia's first purchase of the missiles. Australia 
     will not have any difficulty absorbing these weapons into its 
     armed forces.
       The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not 
     alter the basic military balance in the region.
       The prime contractor will be Lockheed Martin, Orlando, 
     Florida. There are no known offset agreements proposed in 
     connection with this potential sale.
       Implementation of this proposed sale will require annual 
     trips to Australia involving U.S. Government and contractor 
     representatives for technical reviews, support, and oversight 
     for approximately five years.
       There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness 
     as a result of this proposed sale.


                         Transmittal No. 20-02

     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 AGM-158C, Long Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM) 
     system is classified SECRET. The LRASM is a non-nuclear 
     tactical weapon system. It provides a day, night, and adverse 
     weather, standoff air-to-surface capability and is an 
     effective Anti-Surface Warfare missile. The LRASM 
     incorporates components, software, and technical design 
     information that are considered sensitive. The following 
     components being conveyed by the proposed sale that are 
     considered sensitive include:
       a. RF Seeker.
       b. GPS/INS System.
       c. Datalink.
       d. Warhead.
       e. IR Seeker.
       2. These elements are essential to the ability of the LRASM 
     missile to selectively engage hostile targets under a wide 
     range of operations, tactical and environmental conditions.
       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 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.
       5. All defense articles and services listed on this 
     transmittal have been authorized for release and export to 
     the Government of Australia.

                          ____________________