[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 93 (Thursday, May 27, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3881-S3882]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        ARMS SALES NOTIFICATION

  Mr. MENENDEZ. 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. Robert Menendez,
     Chairman, Committee on Foreign Relations,
     United States Senate, Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. Chairman: Pursuant to the reporting requirements 
     of Section 36(b)(l) of the Arms Export Control Act, as 
     amended, we are forwarding herewith Transmittal No. 21-41, 
     concerning the Army's proposed Letter(s) of Offer and 
     Acceptance to the Government of Australia for defense 
     articles and services estimated to cost $259 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. 21-41

     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 Australia.
       (ii) Total Estimated Value:
       Major Defense Equipment * $211 million.
       Other $48 million.
       Total $259 million.
       (iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or 
     Services under Consideration for Purchase:
       Major Defense Equipment (MDE):
       Four (4) CH-47F Cargo Helicopters with customer-unique 
     modifications.
       Eight (8) T55-GA-714A Aircraft Turbine Engines.
       Five (5) AN/AAR-57 Common Missile Warning Systems (CMWS).
       Eight (8) Embedded Global Positioning System (GPS)/Inertial 
     Navigation Systems (INS/EGI) +429.
       Two (2) EAGLE+429 Embedded Global Positioning System (GPS)/
     Inertial Navigation Systems (INS/EGI).
       Non-MDE: Also included is mission equipment; communication 
     and navigation equipment; spare parts and components; special 
     tools and test equipment; publications and technical manuals; 
     U.S. Government and contractor engineering, maintenance, 
     technical, and logistical support services, and other related 
     elements of program and logistical support.
       (iv) Military Department: Army (AT-B-ULZ).
       (v) Prior Related Cases, if any: AT-B-UDK, AT-B-VAF.
       (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: April 29, 2021.
       *  As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control 
     Act.


                          POLICY JUSTIFICATION

                 Australia--CH-47F Chinook Helicopters

       The Government of Australia has requested to buy four (4) 
     CH-47F cargo helicopters with customer-unique modifications; 
     eight (8) T55-GA-714A aircraft turbine engines, five (5) AN/
     AAR-57 Common Missile Warning Systems (CMWS); eight (8) 
     Embedded Global Positioning System (GPS)/Inertial Navigation 
     Systems (INS/EGI) +429; and two (2) EAGLE+429 Embedded Global 
     Positioning System (GPS)/Inertial Navigation Systems (INS/
     EGI). Also included is mission equipment; communication and 
     navigation equipment; spare parts and components; special 
     tools and test equipment; publications and technical manuals; 
     U.S. Government and contractor engineering, maintenance, 
     technical, and logistical support services, and other related 
     elements of program and logistical support. The total 
     estimated value is $259 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

[[Page S3882]]

     and economic power contributes significantly to ensuring 
     peace and economic stability in the region. It is vital to 
     the U.S. national interest to assist our ally in developing 
     and maintaining a strong and ready self-defense capability.
       The proposed sale of this equipment and support will 
     improve Australia's capability to meet current and future 
     threats, increase operational capabilities, strengthen its 
     homeland defense and promote military cooperation.
       The proposed sale of this equipment will not alter the 
     basic military balance in the region.
       These aircraft will be provided from U.S. Army stock. 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 
     assignment of any additional U.S. or contractor 
     representatives.
       There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness 
     as a result of this proposed sale.


                         Transmittal No. 21-41

     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 CH-47F is a twin engine heavy lift helicopter. The 
     CH-47F has the Common Avionics Architecture System (CAAS) 
     cockpit, which provides aircraft system, flight, mission, and 
     communication management systems. The CAAS includes five 
     multifunction displays (MFDs), two general purpose processor 
     units (GPPUs), two control display units (CDUs) and two data 
     concentrator units (DCUs). The Navigation System will have 
     two Embedded GPS/INS (EGis), two Digital Advanced Flight 
     Control System (DAFCS), one ARN-149 Automatic Direction 
     Finder, one ARN-147 VHF Omni Ranging/Instrument Landing 
     System (VOR/ILS)/Marker Beacon (MB) System, one ARN-153 
     Tactical Air Navigation (TACAN) System, two air data 
     computers, and one radar altimeter system. The communications 
     suite consists of two each AN/ARC-231 Multi-mode radios 
     providing VHF FM, VHF-AM, UHF, HQ II and DAMA SATCOM, and two 
     each AN/ ARC-201 D SINCGARS radios. Also included is the AN/
     APXX-123A Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) system.
       2. The AN/APX-123A Identify Friend-or-Foe (IFF) digital 
     transponder set provides pertinent platform information in 
     response to an IFF interrogator. The digital transponder 
     provides cooperative Mark XII IFF capability using full 
     diversity selection, as well as Mode Select (Mode S) 
     capability. In addition, transponder operation provides 
     interface capability with the aircraft's Traffic Collision 
     and Avoidance System (TCAS). The transponder receives pulsed 
     radio frequency interrogation signals in any of six modes ( 
     1, 2, 3/A, S, and 5), decodes the signals, and transmits a 
     pulse-coded reply. The Mark XII IFF operation includes 
     Selective Identification Feature (SIF) Modes 1, 2, 3/A and C, 
     as well as secure cryptographic Mode 5 operational 
     capability.
       3. The AN/ARC-231 Ultra High Frequency (UHF) radio is a 
     software defined radio for military aircraft that provides 
     two-way multi-mode voice and data communications. It provides 
     joint service standard line of sight (LOS), HA VE QUICK, 
     SATURN, and SINCGARS electronic counter-counter measures 
     (ECCM), along with integrated waveform satellite 
     communications (SATCOM).
       4. The Embedded GPS/INS (EGI) unit CN-1689-(H-764GU) 
     contains sensitive GPS technology. The EGI+429 and the 
     obsolescence-fix version, the EAGLE+429 EGI, are self-
     contained, all-attitude navigation system providing outputs 
     of linear and angular acceleration, linear and angular 
     velocity, position, attitude (roll, pitch), platform azimuth, 
     magnetic and true heading, altitude, body angular rates, time 
     tags, and Universal Time Coordinated (UTC) synchronized time. 
     The EGI+429 and EAGLE+429 EGI accepts Radio Frequency (RF) 
     Global Positioning System (GPS) satellite transmissions, and 
     provides these signals as inputs to the Embedded GPS Receiver 
     (EGR). The EGR tracks up to twelve space vehicles (SV) 
     signals simultaneously. The EGR supports the GPS and blended 
     GPS/INS navigation solutions.
       5. The AN/ARN-149, Automatic Direction Finder (ADF) 
     Receiver, is a low frequency radio that provides automatic 
     compass bearing on any radio signal within the frequency 
     range of 100 to 2199.5 kHz as well as navigation where a 
     commercial AM broadcast signal is the only available 
     navigation aid.
       6. The AN/ARN-153, Tactical Airborne Navigation (TACAN) 
     System, is a full featured navigational system that supports 
     four modes of operation: receive mode; transmit receive mode; 
     air-to-air receive mode; and air-to-air transmit-receive 
     mode. The TACAN provides a minimum 500-watt transmit 
     capability with selecting range ratios of 30:1 or 4:1 which 
     is accomplished through the automatic gain control (AGC) 
     enable/disable switch, the 1553 bus, or the RNAV (ARINC) 
     input bus.
       7. The AN/ARN-147 Very High Frequency (VHF) Omni Ranging/
     Instrument Landing System receives input from ground 
     navigation beacons and aids in aircraft navigation.
       8. The AAR-57 Common Missile Warning System (CMWS) detects 
     energy emitted by threat missile in-flight, evaluates 
     potential false alarm emitters in the environment, declares 
     validity of threat and selects appropriate counter-measures 
     for defeat. The CMWS consists of an Electronic Control Unit 
     (ECU), Electro-Optic Missile Sensors (EOMSs), and Sequencer 
     and Improved Countermeasures Dispenser (ICMD).
       9. The AN/APR-39 Radar Warning Receiver Signal Detecting 
     Set is a system that provides warning of a radar directed air 
     defense threat and allows appropriate countermeasures. 
     Included 1553 databus compatible configuration.
       10. The highest level of classification of defense 
     articles, components, and services included in this potential 
     sale is SECRET.
       11. 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.
       12. A determination has been made that the Government of 
     Australia 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.
       13. All defense articles and services listed in this 
     transmittal are authorized for release and export to the 
     Government of Australia.

                          ____________________