[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.
____________________