[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.

                          ____________________