[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.

                          ____________________