[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 206 (Monday, December 7, 2020)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7236-S7237]
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:
[[Page S7237]]
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. 20-78
concerning the Army's proposed Letter(s) of Offer and
Acceptance to the Government of Australia for defense
articles and services estimated to cost $132.2 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. 20-78
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 Australia.
(ii) Total Estimated Value:
Major Defense Equipment * $0
Other $132.2 million.
Total $132.3 million.
(iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or
Services under Consideration for Purchase:
Major Defense Equipment (MDE):
None.
Non-MDE: M825Al 155mm White Phosphorous projectile
munitions, M782 Multi-Option Fuze for Artillery, M762Al
electronic-timed fuzes, M231 and M232A2 propelling charges,
percussion primers, technical publications and books,
technical data for operational maintenance, technical
assistance and services, and other related elements of
logistics and program support.
(iv) Military Department: Army (AT-B-ULC).
(v) Prior Related Cases, if any: AT-B-UGN.
(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: December 4, 2020.
*As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control
Act.
POLICY JUSTIFICATION
Government of Australia--155mm Ammunition and Accessories
The Government of Australia has requested to buy M825A1
155mm White Phosphorous projectile munitions, M782 Multi-
Option Fuze for Artillery, M762A1 electronic-timed fuzes,
M231 and M232A2 propelling charges, percussion primers,
technical publications and books, technical data for
operational maintenance, technical assistance and services,
and other related elements of logistics and program support.
The total estimated program cost is $132.2 million.
This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and
national security objectives of the United States. Australia
is one of our most important allies in the Western Pacific.
The strategic location of this political and economic power
contributes significantly to ensuring peace and economic
stability in the region.
This purchase will enable effective training and extend the
Australian Defence Force's (ADF) capability to conduct
combined operations. The ADF already has these rounds in
service, and is trained and equipped to use them. Australia
will not have any difficulty absorbing these weapons 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 determined at a later
date. The material could potentially be sourced from a
combination of DoD stocks and new procurement. 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
to Australia.
There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness
as a result of this proposed sale.
Transmittal No. 20-78
Notice of Proposed Issuance of Letter of Offer Pursuant to
Section 36(b) of the Arms Export Control Act
Annex Item No. vii
(vii) Sensitivity of Technology:
1. The M825A1 is a 155mm artillery projectile which
utilizes a payload of white phosphorous impregnated felt to
produce a smoke screen at a target location. The Government
of Australia has stated their commitment to use these rounds
exclusively for its intended purpose, which is to provide
signaling and to obscure enemy visibility on the battlefield.
2. The M782 Multi-Option Fuze for Artillery (MOFA). The
M782 is a selectable multi-option fuze that provides height
of burst capability to artillery rounds. The M782 is a
sensitive military technology and has been approved for
release to the Government of Australia.
3. Also included in this case are propelling charges and
other fuzes that enable the effective use of the M825A1 end
item. While these technologies are controlled military
hardware they do not represent a significant technology
transfer risk.
4. The highest level of classified information associated
with the sale of this equipment is SECRET.
5. If a technologically advanced adversary obtains
knowledge of the specific hardware and software elements, the
information could be used to develop countermeasures or
equivalent systems that might reduce weapon system
effectiveness or be used in the development of a system with
similar or advanced capabilities.
6. A determination has been made that Australia can provide
substantially the same degree of protection for the sensitive
technology being released as the U.S. Government. This
proposed sale is necessary to further the U.S. foreign policy
and national security objectives outlined in the Policy
Justification.
7. All defense articles and services listed on this
transmittal are authorized for release and export to the
Government of Australia.
____________________