[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 142 (Monday, August 10, 2020)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5371-S5372]
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. 20-18 
     concerning the Air Force's proposed Letter(s) of Offer and 
     Acceptance to the Government of Japan for defense article and 
     services estimated to cost $23.11 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. 20-18

     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 Japan.
       (ii) Total Estimated Value:
       Major Defense Equipment * $11.30 billion.
       Other $11.81 billion.
       Total $23.11 billion.
       (iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or 
     Services under Consideration for Purchase:
       Major Defense Equipment (MDE):
       Sixty-three (63) F-35A Conventional Take-Off and Landing 
     (CTOL) Aircraft.
       Forty-two (42) F-35B Short Take-Off and Vertical Landing 
     (STOVL) Aircraft.
       One hundred ten (110) Pratt and Whitney Fl35 Engines 
     (includes 5 spares).
       Non-MDE: Also included are Electronic Warfare Systems; 
     Command, Control, Communications, Computers and Intelligence/
     Communications, Navigation and Identification; Autonomic 
     Logistics Global Support System, Autonomic Logistics 
     Information System; Flight Mission Trainer; 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; flight test instrumentation; 
     aircraft ferry and tanker support; 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 
     logistical and program support.
       (iv) Military Department: Air Force (JA-D-SGN).
       (v) Prior Related Cases, if any: JA-D-SBC.
       (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: July 9, 2020.
       * As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control 
     Act.


                          POLICY JUSTIFICATION

               Japan--F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Aircraft

       The Government of Japan has requested to buy sixty-three 
     (63) F-35A Conventional Take-Off and Landing (CTOL) aircraft, 
     forty-two (42) F-35B Short Take-Off and Vertical Landing 
     (STOVL) aircraft, and one hundred ten (110) Pratt and Whitney 
     Fl35 engines (includes 5 spares). Also included are 
     Electronic Warfare Systems; Command, Control, Communications, 
     Computers and Intelligence/Communications, Navigation and 
     Identification; Autonomic Logistics Global Support System, 
     Autonomic Logistics Information System; Flight Mission 
     Trainer; 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; flight test 
     instrumentation; aircraft ferry and tanker support; 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 estimated 
     total cost is $23.11 billion.
       This proposed sale will support the foreign policy goals 
     and national security objectives of the United States by 
     improving the security of a major ally that is a force for 
     political stability and economic progress in the Asia-Pacific 
     region. It is vital to U.S. national interest to assist Japan 
     in developing and maintaining a strong and effective self-
     defense capability.
       The proposed sale of aircraft and support will augment 
     Japan's operational aircraft inventory and enhance its air-
     to-air and air-to-ground self-defense capability. The Japan

[[Page S5372]]

     Air Self-Defense Force's F-4 aircraft are being 
     decommissioned as F-35s are added to the inventory. Japan 
     will have no difficulty absorbing these aircraft 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 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 require multiple 
     trips to Japan involving U.S. Government and contractor 
     representatives for technical reviews/support, programs 
     management, and training over a period of 25 years. U.S. 
     contractor representatives will be required in Japan to 
     conduct Contractor Engineering Technical Services (CETS) and 
     Autonomic Logistics and Global Support (ALGS) for after-
     aircraft delivery.
       There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness 
     as a result of this proposed sale.


                         Transmittal No. 20-18

     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-35A Conventional Take Off and Landing (CTOL) 
     aircraft is a single-seat, single-engine, all-weather, 
     stealth, fifth-generation, multirole aircraft. The F-35B 
     Short Take-Off and Vertical Landing (STOVL) variant is 
     capable of operating from short airfields and ships. Both 
     variants contain 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, a mission systems/electronic warfare suite, 
     a multiple sensor suite, technical data/documentation, and 
     associated software. Sensitive elements of the F-35A and F-
     35B are also included in operational flight and maintenance 
     trainers. Sensitive and classified elements of the F-35A CTOL 
     and F-35B STOVL aircraft include hardware, accessories, 
     components, and associated software for the following major 
     subsystems:
       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 STOVL propulsion configuration consists of 
     the main engine, diverterless 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 IR 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, F135 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 air frame, Integrated Core 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 United States 
     and provides F-35 customers a means to update F-35 electronic 
     warfare databases.
       3. The highest level of classification of information 
     included in this potential sale is SECRET.
       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 that 
     might reduce weapon system effectiveness or be used in the 
     development of a system with similar or advanced 
     capabilities.
       5. A determination has been made that Japan can provide 
     substantially the same degree of protection for the sensitive 
     technology being released as the U.S. Government. This sale 
     is necessary in furthering U.S. foreign policy and national 
     security objectives outlined in the Policy Justification.
       6. All defense articles and services listed in this 
     transmittal have been authorized for release and export to 
     Japan.

                          ____________________