[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 192 (Tuesday, November 10, 2020)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6648-S6649]
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. 21-01
concerning the Air Force's proposed Letter(s) of Offer and
Acceptance to the Government of the United Arab Emirates for
defense articles and services estimated to cost $10.4
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,
Heidi H. Grant,
Director.
Enclosures.
Transmittal No. 21-01
Notice of Proposed Issuance of Letter of Offer Pursuant to
Section 36(b)(l) of the Arms Export Control Act, as
amended
(i) Prospective Purchaser: Government of the United Arab
Emirates (UAE).
(ii) Total Estimated Value:
Major Defense Equipment* $5.8 billion.
Other $4.6 billion.
Total $10.4 billion.
(iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or
Services under Consideration for Purchase:
Major Defense Equipment (MDE):
Fifty (50) F-35A Joint Strike Fighter Conventional Take-Off
and Landing (CTOL) Aircraft.
Fifty-four (54) Pratt & Whitney F-135 Engines (up to 50
installed and 4 spares).
Non-MDE: Also included are Electronic Warfare Systems;
Command, Control, Communications, Computer and Intelligence/
Communications, Navigational, and Identification (C4I/CNI);
Autonomic Logistics Global Support System (ALGS); Operational
Data Integrated Network (ODIN); Air System Training Devices;
Weapons Employment Capability and other Subsystems, Features,
and Capabilities; F-35 unique chaff and infrared flares;
reprogramming center access; F-35 Performance Based
Logistics; software development/integration; aircraft ferry
and tanker support; aircraft and munitions support and test
equipment; communications equipment; provisioning, spares and
repair parts; weapons repair and return support; personnel
training and training equipment; weapon systems software,
publications and technical documents; 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 (AE-D-SAC).
(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: November 9, 2020.
*As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control
Act.
POLICY JUSTIFICATION
United Arab Emirates--F-35 Joint Strike Fighter
The Government of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has
requested to buy up to fifty (50) F-35A Joint Strike Fighter
Conventional Take-Off and Landing (CTOL) aircraft and fifty-
four (54) Pratt & Whitney F-135 Engines (up to 50 installed
and 4 spares). Also included are Electronic Warfare Systems;
Command, Control, Communications, Computer and Intelligence/
Communications, Navigational, and Identification (C4I/CNI);
Autonomic Logistics Global Support System (ALGS); Operational
Data Integrated Network (ODIN); Air System Training Devices;
Weapons Employment Capability and other Subsystems, Features,
and Capabilities; F-35 unique chaff and infrared flares;
reprogramming center access; F-35 Performance Based
Logistics; software development/integration; aircraft ferry
and tanker support; aircraft and munitions support and test
equipment; communications equipment; provisioning, spares and
repair parts; weapons repair and return support; personnel
training and training equipment; weapon systems software,
publications and technical documents; U.S. Government and
contractor engineering, technical, and logistics support
services; and other related elements of logistical and
program support. The total estimated cost is $10.4 billion.
This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and
national security of the United States by helping to improve
the security of an important regional partner. The UAE has
been, and continues to be, a vital U.S. partner for political
stability and economic progress in the Middle East.
The proposed sale of F-35s will provide the Government of
the UAE with a credible defense capability to deter
aggression in the region and ensure interoperability with
U.S. forces. The UAE has demonstrated a commitment to
modernizing its military and
[[Page S6649]]
will have no difficulty absorbing these aircraft into their
armed forces.
The proposed sale of this equipment and support represents
a significant increase in capability and will alter the
regional military balance.
The prime contractors will be Lockheed Martin Aeronautics
Company, Fort Worth, TX; and Pratt & Whitney Military
Engines, East Hartford, CT. There are no known offset
agreements proposed in connection with this potential sale.
However, the purchaser typically requests offsets. Any offset
agreements will be defined in negotiations between the
purchaser and the contractor(s).
Implementation of this proposed sale may require the
assignment of U.S. Government or contractor representatives
to the UAE. Implementation of this proposed sale will require
multiple trips to the UAE involving U.S. Government and
contractor representatives for technical reviews/support,
program management, and training over the life of the
program. U.S. contractor representatives will be required in
the UAE 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. 21-01
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-35A
contain sensitive technology, including the low observable
airframe/outer mold line, the Pratt & 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 F35A are also
included in operational flight and maintenance trainers.
Sensitive elements of the F-35A CTOL aircraft include
hardware, accessories, components, and associated software
for the following major subsystems:
a. The Pratt and Whitney F 135 engine is a single 40,000-
pound 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.
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 (BOA). 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 infrared (IR) and radio frequency (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 Operational Data Integrated Network (ODIN)
provides an intelligent information infrastructure that binds
all the key concepts of ALGS into an effective support
system. ODIN 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, ODIN
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 Mission Rehearsal Trainer (MRT).
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,
Weapons Loading Trainer (WLT), and other training devices.
The F-35 Training System can be integrated, where both pilots
and maintainers learn in the same Integrated Training Center
(ITC).
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 (PLSS), Mission Planning System
Environment (MPSE), 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. The PLSS 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 MPSE 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 defense articles,
components, and services 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 the United Arab
Emirates 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.
6. All defense articles and services listed in this
transmittal are authorized for release and export to the
Government of the United Arab Emirates.
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