[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 192 (Tuesday, November 10, 2020)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6642-S6643]
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,
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. 20-83
concerning the Air Force's proposed Letter(s) of Offer and
Acceptance to the Government of Romania for defense articles
and services estimated to cost $175.4 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,
Heidi H. Grant,
Director.
Enclosures.
Transmittal No. 20-83
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 Romania.
(ii) Total Estimated Value:
Major Defense Equipment * $12.1 million.
Other $163.3 million.
Total $175.4 million.
(iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or
Services under Consideration for Purchase: The Government of
Romania has requested to buy upgrades to the avionics,
software, communication equipment, navigational aids, and
cockpit of its Mid-Life Update (MLU) Block 15 F-16 aircraft
fleet along with additional logistics support.
Major Defense Equipment (MDE):
Eight (8) LN-260 Global Positioning System (GPS).
Nineteen (19) Multifunctional Information Distribution
System Joint Tactical Radio Systems (MIDS JTRS).
Non-MDE: Also included is AN/APX-126 Advanced
Identification Friend or Foe (IFF); ARC-210 Radios; KIV-78
Cryptographic Appliques; other secure communications,
navigation, and encryption devices; Joint Mission Planning
System (JMPS) software; aircraft minor modification,
integration and test support, support equipment, software and
software support; personnel training; spare and repair parts;
publications and technical documentation; U.S. Government and
contractor engineering, technical and logistical support
services; and other related elements of logistical and
program support.
(iv) Military Department: Air Force (RO-D-QAN); Navy (RO-P-
LBF).
(v) Prior Related Cases, if any: RO-D-QAH.
(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: November 3, 2020.
*As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control
Act.
POLICY JUSTIFICATION
Romania--F-16 Modernization and Logistics Support
The Government of Romania has requested to buy upgrades to
the avionics, software, communication equipment, navigational
aids, and cockpit of its Mid-Life Update (MLU) Block 15 F-16
aircraft fleet along with additional logistics support.
Included in the aircraft modernization are eight (8) LN-260
Global Positioning System (GPS) and nineteen (19)
Multifunctional Information Distribution System Joint
Tactical Radio Systems (MIDS JTRS). Also included is AN/APX-
126 Advanced Identification Friend or Foe (IFF); ARC-210
Radios; KIV-78 Cryptographic Appliques; other secure
communications, navigation, and encryption devices; Joint
Mission Planning System (JMPS) software; aircraft minor
modification, integration and test support, support
equipment, software and software support; personnel training;
spare and repair parts; publications and technical
documentation; U.S. Government and contractor engineering,
technical and logistical support services; and other related
elements of logistical and program support. The estimated
total cost is $175.4 million.
This proposed sale will support the foreign policy goals
and national security of the United States by helping to
improve the security of a NATO ally in developing and
maintaining a strong and ready self-defense capability. This
proposed sale will enhance U.S. national security objectives
in the region.
The proposed sale will improve Romania's capability to meet
current and future threats by upgrading its avionics to meet
interoperability requirements for encrypted communications
systems used by NATO
[[Page S6643]]
forces. This increased secure communications capability will
assist Romania in the defense of its homeland and U.S.
personnel stationed there. Romania has demonstrated a
significant financial commitment to modernizing its military,
which will further enhance its interoperability with NATO.
Romania will have no difficulty absorbing these capabilities
into its armed forces.
The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not
alter the basic military balance in the region.
The principal contractor will be Lockheed Martin
Aeronautics Company of Fort Worth, TX. There are no known
offset agreements proposed in connection with this potential
sale.
Implementation of this proposed sale will not require the
assignment of U.S. Government or contractor representatives
in Romania.
There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness
as a result of this proposed sale.
Transmittal No. 20-83
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 embedded GPS-INS (EGI) LN-260 is a sensor that
combines GPS and inertial sensor inputs to provide accurate
location information for navigating and targeting.
2. The Multifunctional Information Distribution System with
Joint Tactical Radio System (MIDS JTRS) is an advanced Link-
16 command, control, communications, and intelligence (C31)
system incorporating high-capacity, jam-resistant, digital
communications links for exchange of near real-time tactical
information, including both data and voice, among air, ground
and sea elements.
3. The AN/APX-126 Advanced Identification Friend or Foe
(IFF) Combined Interrogator Transponder (CIT) is a system
capable of transmitting and interrogating Mode 5.
4. The ARC-210 UHF/VHF secure radio with HAVE QUICK II is a
voice communications radio system that can operate in either
normal, secure, and/or jam-resistant modes.
5. The KIV-78 is a crypto applique for IFF. It can be
loaded with Mode 5 classified elements.
6. The Joint Mission Planning System (JMPS) is a multi-
platform PC based mission planning system.
7. The highest level of classification of information
included in this potential sale is SECRET.
8. 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.
9. A determination has been made that Romania can provide
substantially the same degree of protection for the sensitive
technology being released as the U.S. Government. This sale
is necessary in furtherance of the U.S. foreign policy and
national security objectives outlined in the Policy
Justification.
10. All defense articles and services listed in this
transmittal have been authorized for release and export to
the Government of Romania.
____________________