[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 206 (Monday, December 7, 2020)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7237-S7238]
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. 20-87 concerning the Army's proposed Letter(s) 
of Offer and Acceptance to the Taipei Economic and Cultural 
Representative Office in the United States (TECRO) for defense articles 
and services estimated to cost $280 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. 20-87

     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: Taipei Economic and Cultural 
     Representative Office in the United States (TECRO).
       (ii) Total Estimated Value:
       Major Defense Equipment * $0 million.
       Other $280 million.
       Total $280 million.
       (iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or 
     Services under Consideration for Purchase: TECRO has 
     requested to buy a Field Information Communications System 
     (FICS), consisting of:
       Major Defense Equipment (MDE): None.
       Non-MDE: One hundred fifty-four (154) Communications Nodes 
     (CN) with S-788 Type III shelter; twenty-four (24) 
     Communication Relays with S-788 Type III shelter; eight (8) 
     Network Management Systems (NMS) with S-788 Type III shelter; 
     Basic Issue Items (BII); program management support; 
     verification testing; system technical support; 
     transportation; spare and repair parts; communication support 
     equipment; communication equipment integration; tools and 
     test equipment; personnel training and training equipment; 
     initial repair and return program; Additional Authorized List 
     (AAL); technical manuals; Quality Assurance Team (QAT); U.S. 
     Government and contractor engineering; technical and 
     logistics support services; contractor provided training; 
     Field Service Representatives (FSR); and other related 
     elements of logistics and program support.
       (iv) Military Department: Army (TW-B-ZAW).
       (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: December 7, 2020.
       *As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control 
     Act.

[[Page S7238]]

  



                          POLICY JUSTIFICATION

Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States 
        (TECRO)--Field Information Communications System (FICS)

       TECRO has requested to buy a Field Information 
     Communications System (FICS), consisting of one hundred 
     fifty-four (154) Communications Nodes (CN) with S-788 Type 
     III shelter; twenty-four (24) Communication Relays with S-788 
     Type Ill shelter; eight (8) Network Management Systems (NMS) 
     with S-788 Type III shelter; Basic Issue Items (BII); program 
     management support; verification testing; system technical 
     support; transportation; spare and repair parts; 
     communication support equipment; communication equipment 
     integration; tools and test equipment; personnel training and 
     training equipment; initial repair and return program; 
     Additional Authorized List (AAL); technical manuals; Quality 
     Assurance Team (QAT); U.S. Government and contractor 
     engineering; technical and logistics support services; 
     contractor provided training; Field Service Representatives 
     (FSR); and other related elements of logistics and program 
     support. The total estimated program cost is $280 million.
       This proposed sale is consistent with U.S. law and policy 
     as expressed in Public Law 96-8.
       This proposed sale serves U.S. national, economic, and 
     security interests by supporting the recipient's continuing 
     efforts to modernize its armed forces and to maintain a 
     credible defensive capability. The proposed sale will help 
     improve the security of the recipient and assist in 
     maintaining political stability, military balance, economic 
     and progress in the region.
       This proposed sale is designed to provide mobile and secure 
     communications. It will contribute to the recipient's goal to 
     modernize its military communication's capability in support 
     of their mission and operational needs. The recipient will 
     have no difficulty absorbing these systems 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 is currently unknown due to a 
     pending open competition for selection. The purchaser 
     typically requests offsets. Any offset agreement will be 
     defined in negotiations between the purchaser and the 
     contractor(s).
       Implementation of this proposed sale will not require the 
     permanent assignment of any additional U.S. Government or 
     contractor representatives to the recipient. Contractor 
     representative and U.S. Government support teams may be 
     required to travel to the country on a temporary basis.
       There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness 
     as a result of this proposed sale.


                         Transmittal No. 20-87

     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 Field Information Communications System (FICS) is 
     made up of commercially available, non-program of record 
     components. The FICS system (also referred to as ``Syun 
     Lien'') is an area-switched communications system which is 
     designed to provide mobile and secure communications in a 
     wide range of battle situations. The FICS system provides 
     mobile and secure voice and data communications on an 
     automatic, discrete addressed, fixed-directory basis to the 
     military Tactical Operations Center (TOC)-level command posts 
     (CPs), and remote (mobile) users employing technological 
     improvements in radio transmissions, data networking and 
     packetized voice, while minimizing system footprint (power, 
     size, personnel and logistics train). The system supports 
     both mobile and wire subscribers with a means to exchange 
     command, control, communications, and intelligence 
     information in a dynamic tactical environment.
       2. The highest level of classification of defense articles, 
     components, and services included in this potential sale is 
     UNCLASSIFIED.
       3. If a technologically advanced adversary were to obtain 
     knowledge of the hardware and software elements, the 
     information could be used to develop countermeasures or 
     equivalent systems, which might reduce system effectiveness 
     or be used in the development of a system with similar or 
     advanced capabilities.
       4. A determination has been made that the recipient 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.
       5. All defense articles and services listed in this 
     transmittal have been authorized for release and export to 
     the recipient.

                          ____________________