[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 111 (Tuesday, June 16, 2020)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3010-S3011]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
ARMS SALES NOTIFICATION
Mr. RISCH. Madam 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,
United States 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. 20-42
concerning the Navy's proposed Letter(s) of Offer and
Acceptance to the Government of Canada for defense articles
and services estimated to cost $862.3 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.
Transmittal No. 20-42
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 Canada.
(ii) Total Estimated Value:
Major Defense Equipment *, $204.50 million.
Other, $657.80 million.
Total, $862.30 million.
(iii) Description Quantity or Quantities of Articles or
Services under Consideration for Purchase:
Major Defense Equipment (MDE):
Fifty (50) Sidewinder AIM-9X Block II Tactical Missiles.
Fifty (50) Sidewinder AIM-9X Block II Captive Air Training
Missiles (CATMs).
Ten (10) Sidewinder AIM-9X Block II Special Air Training
Missiles (NATMs).
Ten (10) Sidewinder AIM-9X Block II Tactical Guidance
Units.
Ten (10) Sidewinder AIM-9X Block II CATM Guidance Units.
Thirty-eight (38) APG-79(V)4 Active Electronically Scanned
Array (AESA) Radar.
Thirty-eight (38) APG-79(V)4 AESA Radar A 1 Kits.
Twenty (20) Joint Standoff Weapon (JSOW) C, AGM-154C.
Forty-six (46) F/A-18A Wide Band RADOMEs.
Non-MDE: Also included are additional technical and
logistics support for the AESA radar; upgrades to the
Advanced Distributed Combat Training System (ADCTS) to ensure
flight trainers remain current with the new technologies;
software development to integrate the systems listed into the
F/A-18A airframe and install Automated Ground Collision
Avoidance System (Auto GCAS); thirty (30) Bomb Release Unit
(BRU)--42 Triple Ejector Racks (TER); thirty (30) Improved
Tactical Air Launched Decoy (ITALD); one hundred four (104)
Data Transfer Device/Data Transfer Units (DTD/DTU); twelve
(12) Joint Mission Planning System (JMPS); one hundred twelve
(112) AN/ARC-210 RT-2036 (Gen 6) radios and F/A-18
integration equipment; support equipment; tools and test
equipment; technical data and publications; U.S. Government
and contractor engineering, technical, and logistics support
services; and other related elements of logistical and
program support.
(iv) Military Department: Navy (CN-P-LKZ, CN-P-LKW, CN-P-
LLE, CN-P-LLA, CN-P-LKY, CN-P-LKX, CN-P-LDD, etc.).
(v) Prior Related Cases, if any: CN-P-FFE; CN-P-FEL; CN-P-
LKS; CN-P-LKT.
(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: June 15, 2020.
* As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control
Act.
POLICY JUSTIFICATION
Canada--Hornet Extension Program Related FMS Acquisitions
The Government of Canada has requested to buy fifty (50)
Sidewinder AIM-9X Block II Tactical missiles; fifty (50)
Sidewinder AIM-9X Block II Captive Air Training Missiles
(CATMs); ten (10) Sidewinder AIM-9X Block II Special Air
Training Missiles (NATMs); ten (10) Sidewinder AIM-9X Block
II Tactical Guidance Units; ten (10) Sidewinder AIM-9X Block
II CATM Guidance Units; thirty-eight (38) APG-79(V)4 Active
Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar units; thirty-eight
(38) APG-79(V)4 AESA Radar A1 kits; twenty (20) Joint
Standoff Weapon (JSOW) C, AGM-154C; forty-six (46) F/A-18A
Wide Band RADOMEs. Also included are additional technical and
logistics support for the AESA radar; upgrades to the
Advanced Distributed Combat Training System (ADCTS) to ensure
flight trainers remain current with the new technologies;
software development to integrate the systems listed into the
F/A-18A airframe and install Automated Ground Collision
Avoidance System (Auto GCAS); thirty (30) Bomb Release Unit
(BRU)--42 Triple Ejector Racks (TER); thirty (30) Improved
Tactical Air Launched Decoy (ITALD); one hundred four (104)
Data Transfer Device/Data Transfer Units (DTD/DTU); twelve
(12) Joint Mission Planning System (JMPS); one hundred twelve
(112) AN/ARC-210 RT-2036 (Gen 6) radios and F/A-18
integration equipment; support equipment; tools and test
equipment; technical data and publications; U.S. Government
and contractor engineering, technical, and logistics support
services; and other related elements of logistical and
program support. The total estimated program cost is $862.3
million.
This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and
national security objectives of the United States by helping
to improve the military capability of Canada, a NATO ally
that is an important force for ensuring political stability
and economic progress and a contributor to military,
peacekeeping and humanitarian operations around the world.
This sale will provide Canada a 2-squadron bridge of enhanced
F/A-18A aircraft to continue meeting NORAD and NATO
commitments while it gradually introduces new advanced
aircraft via the Future Fighter Capability Program between
2025 and 2035.
The proposed sale of the capabilities, as listed, will
improve Canada's capability to meet current and future
warfare threats and provide greater security for its critical
infrastructure. This sale will provide Canada the ability to
maximize the systems' employment and sustainment,
significantly enhancing the warfighting capability of the
Royal Canadian Air Force's F/A-18 aircraft. Canada 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 prime contractors will be Raytheon Corporation, El
Segundo, CA; General Dynamics Mission Systems, Marion, VA;
The Boeing Company, St. Louis, MO; and Collins Aerospace,
Cedar Rapids, IA. The purchaser typically requests offsets.
Any offset agreement will be defined in negotiations between
the purchaser and the contractor(s).
Implementation of this proposed sale will require the
assignment of contractor representatives to Canada on an
intermittent basis over the life of the case to support
delivery and integration of items onto the existing F/A-18A
aircraft and to provide supply support management, inventory
control and equipment familiarization.
There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness
as a result of this proposed sale.
Transmittal No. 20-42
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 following are included in this sale:
a. The AIM-9X Block II and Block II+ (Plus) SIDEWINDER
Missile represents a substantial increase in missile
acquisition and kinematics performance over the AIM-
[[Page S3011]]
9M and replaces the AIM-9X Block I Missile configuration. The
missile includes a high off-boresight seeker, enhanced
countermeasure rejection capability, low drag/high angle of
attack airframe and the ability to integrate the Helmet
Mounted Cueing System. The software algorithms are the most
sensitive portion of the AIM-9X missile. The software
continues to be modified via a preplanned product improvement
(P3I) program in order to improve its counter-countermeasure
capabilities. No software source code or algorithms will be
released. The missile is classified as CONFIDENTIAL. The AIM-
9X will result in the transfer of sensitive technology and
information. The equipment, hardware, and documentation are
classified CONFIDENTIAL. The software and operational
performance are classified SECRET. The seeker/guidance
control section and the target detector are CONFIDENTIAL and
contain sensitive state-of-the-art technology. Manuals and
technical documentation that are necessary or support
operational use and organizational management are classified
up to SECRET. Performance and operating logic of the counter-
countermeasures circuits are classified SECRET. The hardware,
software, and data identified are classified to protect
vulnerabilities, design and performance parameters and
similar critical information.
b. The AN/APG-79 Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA)
Radar System is classified SECRET. The radar provides the F/
A-18A Hornet aircraft with all-weather, multimission
capability for performing Air-to-Air and Air-to-Ground
targeting and attack. Air-to-Air modes provide the capability
for all-aspect target detection, long-range search and track,
automatic target acquisition, and tracking of multiple
targets. Air-to-Surface attack modes provide high-resolution
ground mapping navigation, weapon delivery, and sensor
cueing. The system component hardware (Antenna, Transmitter,
Radar Data Processor, and Power Supply) is UNCLASSIFIED. The
Receiver-Exciter hardware is CONFIDENTIAL. The radar
Operational Flight Program (OFP) is classified SECRET.
Documentation provided with the AN/APG-79 radar set is
classified SECRET.
c. The AGM-154 Joint Standoff Weapon (JSOW) is used by
Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force, and allows aircraft to
attack well-defended targets in day, night, and adverse
weather conditions. AGM-154C carries a BROACH warhead. The
BROACH warhead incorporates an advanced multi-stage warhead.
JSOW-C uses the GPS Precise Positioning System (PPS), which
provides for a more accurate capability than the commercial
version of GPS. The JSOW-C incorporates components, software,
and technical design information that are considered
sensitive. The following JSOW-C components being conveyed by
the proposed sale that are considered sensitive and are
classified CONFIDENTIAL include the GPS/INS, IIR seeker, OFP
software and missile operational characteristics and
performance data. These elements are essential to the ability
of the JSOW-C missile to selectively engage hostile targets
under a wide range of operational, tactical, and
environmental conditions.
d. The Wide Band RADOME (WBR) is a high performance nose
radome designed for use with the Active Electronically
Scanned Array (AESA) Radar. The WBR is required to leverage
the full capability of the AESA Radar. The Radome will
provide superior RF performance over broader AESA Radar
operational bands which will give the user an advantage in
operational scenarios. Specifically, the WBR will provide
improved target detection with less interference and reduce
jamming vulnerability. Purchasing the AESA without the WBR
would significantly reduce the capability of the AESA and the
user would gain very little advantage with the AESA.
e. The Upgrades to the Advanced Distributed Combat Training
System (ADCTS), provides an aggressive program upgrade the
warfighting capability of the F/A-18. The program will
introduce new systems and weapons to the aircraft. In order
to have pilots ready to utilize the new technologies, it is
imperative that the user's Pilot Trainer (ADCTS) undergoes a
parallel upgrade effort. The ADCTS is an integral part of the
user's Pilot Training Syllabus and this procurement will
address this requirement. It will provide pilots the ability
to train with the new systems that will be resident in the
aircraft in a simulated environment. This procurement will
provide pilots the ability to maximize use of the new
capabilities that will eventually translate to the
operational environment and make the users Air Force a
significant contributor to international coalition
initiatives.
f. Software Development. The challenge facing the user
nation is that in order to add all the new capabilities and
weapons to the platform there is a parallel software effort
required to ensure all the new capabilities have a software
model that will support their integration and use. The
success of the aggressive procurement of the systems and
capabilities for the program will be dependent on the ability
to develop and test the requisite software. This is a
significant effort that will rely on Naval Air Weapons
Station China Lake to develop the required products. This
will entail development of the product, lab testing and
eventually flight testing of the software loads. There will
be some mutual software development, but the end result will
depend on U.S. Government engineers to provide final check
and approval of all software profiles. This FMS case funds
this effort. Additionally, the software effort will support
Automatic Ground Collision Avoidance System (A-GCAS). This
system is also referred to as Automatic Terrain Avoidance
Warning System (A-TAWS). This is flight control software that
uses a terrain elevation database to calculate the aircraft's
relative position above the ground. If it senses that the
aircraft is on a collision course with the ground that is
outside of normal parameters, it automatically commands the
aircraft to roll wings level and recover away from a ground
collision
g. The ADM-141C Improved Tactical Air-Launched Decoy
(ITALD) is unclassified. The ITALD vehicle is intended to be
delivered by sea- and land-based tactical aircraft, to cause
an increase in the number of apparent targets to enemy
defenses prior to or during air strikes. The ITALD system
consists of the flight vehicle, launch rack (Improved Triple
Ejector Rack (ITER)), Improved Decoy Tester/Programmer
(IDTP), Radio Frequency Payload System Tester (PSST), and
shipping/storage container. The ITALD is capable of
functioning in the vehicle test mode, mission programming
mode (using JMPS with ITALD UPC), GPS almanac uploading mode,
captive carriage mode, launch mode, jettison mode, and free-
flight mode.
h. The Joint Mission Planning System (JMPS) is classified
SECRET. JMPS will provide mission planning capability for
support of military aviation operations. It will also provide
support for unit-level mission planning for all phases of
military flight operations and have the capability to provide
necessary mission data for the aircrew. JMPS will support the
downloading of data to electronics data transfer devices for
transfer to aircraft and weapon systems. A JMPS for a
specific aircraft type will consist of basic planning tools
called the Joint Mission Planning Environment (JMPE) mated
with a Unique Planning Component (UPC) provided by the
aircraft program. In addition, UPCs will be required for
specific weapons, communication devices, and moving map
displays. The JMPS will be tailored to the specific
releasable configuration for the F/A-18A, with maximum
commonality with the most advanced United States Marine Corps
configuration of these aircraft.
i. The AN/ARC-210 RT-2036 (Gen 6) Radio's Line-of-sight
data transfer rates up to 80
kb/s in a 25 kHz channel creating high-speed communication of
critical situational awareness information for increased
mission effectiveness. Software that is reprogrammable in the
field via Memory Loader/Verifier Software making flexible use
for multiple missions. The AN/ARC-210 has embedded software
with programmable cryptography for secure communications.
Relative to the 5th Generation AN/ARC-210 radios, the 6th
generation AN/ARC-210 RT-2036 adds, in addition to newer
hardware, the Mobile User Objective System (MUOS) capability.
Access to the MUOS satellite constellation can be effectively
controlled by withholding the relevant order wire keys from
RT-2036 users.
2. If a technologically advanced adversary were to obtain
knowledge of the specific hardware or software in this
proposed sale, 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 advance capabilities.
3. A determination has been made that the recipient
country, the Government of Canada can provide substantially
the same degree of protection for the classified and
sensitive technology being released as the United States
Government. This sale is necessary in furtherance if the
United States Foreign Policy and National Security objectives
outlined in the Policy Justification.
4. All defense articles and services listed in this
transmittal have been authorized for release and export to
the Government of Canada.
____________________