[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 93 (Thursday, May 27, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3882-S3884]
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,
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. 21-40,
concerning the Army's proposed Letter(s) of Offer and
Acceptance to the Government of Australia for defense
articles and services estimated to cost $1.685 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. 21-40
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* $ .500 billion.
Other $1.185 billion.
Total $1.685 billion.
(iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or
Services under consideration for Purchase:
Major Defense Equipment (MOE):
One hundred sixty (160) MlAl Tank structures/hulls provided
from stock in order to produce the following end items and
spares.
Seventy-five (75) M1A2 SEPv3 Abrams Main Battle Tanks.
Twenty-nine (29) M1150 Assault Breacher Vehicles.
Eighteen (18) M1074 Joint Assault Bridges.
Six (6) M88A2 Hercules Combat Recovery Vehicles.
One hundred twenty-two (122) AGT1500 Gas Turbine Engines.
Non-MDE: Also included is development of a unique armor
package, Common Remotely Operated Weapon Station Low Profile
(CROWS-LP), Driver's Vision Enhancer, mission equipment,
special tools and test equipment, ground support equipment,
system and engine spare parts, technical data, publications,
Modification Work Orders/Engineering Change Proposals (MWO/
ECPs), U.S. Government and contractor technical and logistics
assistance, quality assurance teams, transportation services,
program management, New Equipment Training (NET); and other
related elements of logistical and program support.
(iv) Military Department: Army (AT-B-ULU, AT-B-ULX, AT-B-
UKQ, AT-B-UKX).
(v) Prior Related Cases, if any: AT-B-ZZH, AT-B-UHQ, AT-B-
UIZ, AT-B-UIG.
[[Page S3883]]
(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--Heavy Armored Combat Systems
The Government of Australia has requested to buy one
hundred sixty (160) MlAl Tank structures/hulls provided from
stock in order to produce the following end items and spares:
seventy-five (75) M1A2 SEPv3 Abrams Main Battle Tanks;
twenty-nine (29) M1150 Assault Breacher Vehicles; eighteen
(18) M1074 Joint Assault Bridges; six (6) M88A2 Hercules
Combat Recovery Vehicles; and one hundred twenty-two (122)
AGT1500 gas turbine engines. Also included is development of
a unique armor package, Common Remotely Operated Weapon
Station Low Profile (CROWS-LP), Driver's Vision Enhancer,
mission equipment, special tools and test equipment, ground
support equipment, system and engine spare parts, technical
data, publications, Modification Work Orders/Engineering
Change Proposals (MWO/ECPs), U.S. Government and contractor
technical and logistics assistance, quality assurance teams,
transportation services, program management, New Equipment
Training (NET); and other related elements of logistical and
program support. The total estimated value is $1.685 billion.
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. 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 improves Australia's capability to meet
current and future threats by enhancing the lethality,
survivability, and interoperability of the Australian Army.
Australia will use the enhanced capability to strengthen its
homeland defense and deter regional threats. The MlA2 SEPv3
Main Battle Tanks will upgrade the current Australian fleet
of MlAl SA tanks with no changes to Royal Australian Armoured
Corps force structure. Additional M88A2 vehicles provide de-
processing and combat vehicle recovery support for the
Australian tank fleet. The M1150 Assault Breacher Vehicles
(ABVs) and M1074 Joint Assault Bridges (JABs) will be a new
capability for the Royal Australian Engineers, bringing
under-armor bridging and breaching capability, increasing the
effectiveness and survivability of Australian Combat
Engineers and providing increased mobility for the armored
fleet. Australia will have no difficulty absorbing this
equipment into its armed forces.
The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not
alter the basic military balance in the region.
The principal contractors will be General Dynamics Land
Systems, Sterling Heights, MI; BAE Systems, York, PA;
Leonardo DRS, Arlington, VA; and Honeywell Aerospace,
Phoenix, AZ. The purchaser typically requests offsets. Any
offset agreement will be defined in negotiations between the
purchaser and the contractor(s).
Implementation of this sale will require the assignment of
approximately 10 additional U.S. 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. 21-40
Notice of Proposed Issuance of Letter of Offer and Acceptance
Pursuant to Section 36(b)(1) of the Arms Export Control
Act
Annex Item No. vii
(vii) Sensitivity of Technology:
1. M1A2 System Enhancement Package 3 (SEPv3) Main Battle
Tank. The M1A2 Abrams is a third-generation American main
battle tank, produced by General Dynamics Land Systems. The
M1A2 SEPv3 features include a multi-fuel turbine engine,
composite armor, an advanced computer fire control system,
separate ammunition storage in a blow-out compartment, and
120mm main gun. Extensive improvements have been implemented
to the latest M1A2 SEPv3 configuration. These include
improved digital systems, increased electrical power margin
to support demands of future technologies, line replaceable
modules (LRM) to reduce operational support costs, ammunition
data link to support new tank main gun rounds, and an
auxiliary power unit (APU). The M1A2 Thermal Imaging System
(TIS) and M1A2 Commander's Independent Thermal Viewer (CITV)
constitute the system's target acquisition system, which,
when operated with other tank systems gives the tank crew a
substantial battlefield advantage. The TIS provides the M1A2
crew with the ability to effectively aim and fire the tank
main armament system under a broad range of adverse
battlefield conditions. The TIS can be operated and viewed by
the tank gunner or tank commander, and is the main sighting
system for the tanks' main gun (cannon.) The CITV provides
the same target acquisition system as the TIS, but provides
the tank commander a separate system that can be controlled
and operated independent of the TIS. Australia has
commissioned the development and production of bespoke Turret
Front armor to be used in their M1A2SEPv3. This armor is
being developed by the USG in consultation and coordination
with the CoA to ensure that it is optimized to their
perceived threat matrix.
2. The Abrams 120mm main gun system is composed of a 120
millimeter smoothbore gun manufactured at Watervliet Arsenal.
Gun production and design technology are generally well
known.
3. The use of a gas turbine propulsion system in the M1A2
is a unique application of armored vehicle power pack
technology. The hardware is composed of the AGT-1500 engine
and transmission, and while the system is not a critical
military technology the manufacturing processes associated
with the turbine blades, recuperator, bearings and shafts,
and hydrostatic pump and motor are proprietary and therefore
commercially competition sensitive.
4. The Common Remotely Operated Weapon Station--Low Profile
(CROWS-LP) is the M1A2 commander's weapon station, and allows
for under-armor operation of the weapons on the system
including the M2HB, M2A1, M240B and M240 machine guns. The
CROWS-LP is an updated version of the M153A2 CROWS, is
approximately 10 inches shorter, and offers increased
visibility to the user. The fire control system of the CROWS-
LP allows for ``first-burst'' on target capability from
stationary and moving platforms. The CROWS-LP ingratiates a
day camera (VIM-C), thermal camera (TIM 1500) and laser range
finder (STORM/STORM-PI).
5. The Driver Vision Enhancer--Abrams (DVE-A) and Rear View
Sensor System (RVSS) are un-cooled thermal imaging systems
developed for use while driving combat vehicles and tactical
wheeled vehicles. The DVE-A provides night vision capability
for the Abrams tank driver. RVSS provides a rear view camera
for the Abrams tank. DVE-A and RVSS allow for tactical
vehicle movement in support of operational missions in all
environmental conditions (day/night and all weather) and
provides enhanced driving capability during limited
visibility conditions.
6. M88A2 Heavy Equipment Recovery Vehicle. M88A2 Heavy
Equipment Recovery Combat Utility Lifting Extraction System
(HERCULES) Combat Recovery Vehicle is to extricate combat
vehicles that have become bogged down or entangled, and to
repair or replace damaged parts in fighting vehicles while
under fire. The 70-ton M88A2 Recovery Combat Vehicle is
standard equipment to de-process, recover, and sustain the
Abrams Ml Tank.
7. The M88A2's AVDS-1790-8CR is a unique modification to
the standard piston engine family in the M60 series and the
base M88Al. Manufacturing processes associated with the
production of turbochargers, fuel injection system, and
cylinders are proprietary and therefore commercially
competition sensitive.
8. The Driver's Vision Enhancer--Combat Vehicle M88 is an
un-cooled thermal imaging system developed for use on combat
and tactical wheeled vehicles. It allows for tactical vehicle
movement in all environmental and limited visibility
conditions. The DVE-CV for M88 vehicle is a platform-mounted
night vision device that requires external power supply and
is integrated into the vehicle. The M88 is also equipped with
CROWS-LP (M153A2E1), described above for the Abrams.
9. The Assault Breacher Vehicle (ABV). The ABV is a highly
mobile and heavily armored minefield and complex obstacle
breaching system. It consists of an M1 Abrams tank hull, a
unique turret with two Linear Demolition Charge Systems (
employing two Mine Clearing Line Charges (MCLC) and rockets),
a Lane Marking System (LMS), Integrated Vision System, and a
High Lift Adapter that interchangeably mounts mine plows,
rollers, and dozer blades.
10. The Driver Vision Enhancer. Abrams (DVE-A) and Assault
Breacher Vehicle Integrated Vision System (IVS) are un-cooled
thermal imaging systems developed for use while driving
combat vehicles and tactical wheeled vehicles. The DVE-A
provides night vision capability for the ABV tank driver. IVS
provides a rear view camera for the ABV. The ABV is equipped
with the AGT 1500 Gas Turbine Propulsion System and the
CROWS-LP described in the Abrams and M88A2 sections above.
11. The ABV is equipped with a Magnetic Signature
Duplicator which mounts to the forward engineering
attachments. It generates a magnetic perturbation which
causes magnetically fused mines to detonate well forward of
the vehicle through the use of an emitted magnetic field.
12. The Joint Assault Bridge (JAB) provides Army Engineer
units supporting Armored Brigade Combat Teams with a
survivable, deployable and sustainable heavy-assault bridging
capability. The JAB provides a gap-crossing capability to
cross wet or dry gaps to provide freedom of maneuver on the
battlefield and keep pace with Abrams Brigade Combat Team
operations. The JAB consists of an M1A2 Abrams tank hull
integrated with a hydraulic bridge launcher system to deploy
the Armored Vehicle Launched Bridge (AVLB) Military Load
Class 95 Scissor Bridge. The JAB is equipped with the Driver
Vision Enhancer--Abrams and the Rear View Sensor Systems
described above.
13. The highest level of classification of defense
articles, components, and services included in this potential
sale is SECRET.
14. If a technologically advanced adversary were to obtain
knowledge of the specific
[[Page S3884]]
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.
15. 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.
16. All defense articles and services listed in this
transmittal are authorized for release and export to the
Government of Australia.
____________________