[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 158 (Tuesday, September 14, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6488-S6489]
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. 21-44, 
     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 $750 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. 21-44

     Notice of Proposed Issuance of Letter of Offer Pursuant to 
         Section 36(b)(1) of the Arms Export Control Act, as 
         amended
       Prospective Purchaser: Taipei Economic and Cultural 
     Representative Office in the United States (TECRO).
       (ii) Total Estimated Value:
       Major Defense Equipment * $635 million.
       Other $115 million.
       Total $750 million.
       Funding Source: National Funds.
       (iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or 
     Services under Consideration for Purchase:
       Major Defense Equipment (MDE):
       Forty (40) 155mm Ml09A6 Medium Self-Propelled Howitzer 
     Systems.
       Twenty (20) M992A2 Field Artillery Ammunition Support 
     Vehicle (FAASV).
       One (1) Advanced Field Artillery Tactical Data System 
     (AFATDS).
       Five (5) M88A2 Hercules Vehicles.
       Five (5) M2 Chrysler Mount .50 Caliber Machine Guns.
       One thousand six hundred ninety-eight (1,698) Multi-Option, 
     Precision Guidance Kits (PGK).
       Non-MDE: Also included are M 109A6/M992A2 overhaul, 
     conversion and refurbishment services; Special Tools and Test 
     Equipment (STTE); Defense Advanced Global Positioning System 
     (GPS) Receiver; AN/VVS (2) Night Driver's Viewer (NDV); 
     Dynamic Reference Unit Hybrid Replacement Inertial Navigation 
     System; Basic Issue Items (Bil); 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; 
     repair and return program; camouflage nets; Components of End 
     Items (COEI), Additional Authorized List (AAL), Technical 
     Manuals; Quality Assurance Team (QAT); 155mm M232A 1 
     Propelling Charges, M82 Percussion Primer Fuzes, support and 
     test equipment, integration and test support, software 
     delivery, publications and technical documentation. U.S. 
     Government and contractor engineering; technical and 
     logistics support services; storage; and other related 
     elements of logistics and program support; OCON US 
     Deprocessing Service; Export Single Channel Ground and 
     Airborne Radio System (SINCGARS); OCONUS Contractor provided 
     Training, Field Service Representatives (FSR); M2A 1 .50 Cal 
     MG; MK93 MOD 2 Mount Machine Gun; M239 Smoke Grenade 
     Launchers, U.S. Government and contractor representatives' 
     technical assistance, engineering and logistics support 
     services, and other related elements of logistics support.
       (iv) Military Department: Army (TW-B-ZDI).
       (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: August 4, 2021.
       *As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control 
     Act.


                          POLICY JUSTIFICATION

Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States 
  (TECRO)--155mm Ml09A6 Paladin Medium Self-Propelled Howitzer System

       TECRO has requested to buy forty (40) 155mm M109A6 Medium 
     Self-Propelled Howitzer Systems; twenty (20) M992A2 Field 
     Artillery Ammunition Support Vehicles (FAASV); one (1) 
     Advanced Field Artillery Tactical Data System (AFATDS); five 
     (5) M88A2 Hercules vehicles; five (5) M2 Chrysler Mount .50 
     caliber machine guns; and one thousand six hundred ninety-
     eight (1,698) multi-option, Precision Guidance Kits (PGK). 
     Also included are M109A6/M992A2 overhaul, conversion and 
     refurbishment services; Special Tools and Test Equipment 
     (STTE); Defense Advanced Global Positioning System (GPS) 
     Receiver; AN/VVS (2) Night Driver's Viewer (NDV); Dynamic 
     Reference Unit Hybrid Replacement Inertial Navigation System; 
     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; 
     repair and return program; camouflage nets; Components of End 
     Items (COEI), Additional Authorized List (AAL), Technical 
     Manuals; Quality Assurance Team (QAT); 155mm M232A1 
     Propelling Charges, M82 Percussion Primer Fuzes, support and 
     test equipment, integration and test support, software 
     delivery, publications and technical documentation. U.S. 
     Government and contractor engineering; technical and 
     logistics support services; storage; and other related 
     elements of logistics and program support; OCONUS 
     Deprocessing Service; Export Single Channel Ground and 
     Airborne Radio System (SINCGARS); OCONUS Contractor provided 
     Training, Field Service Representatives (FSR); M2Al .50 Cal 
     MG; MK93 MOD 2 Mount Machine Gun; M239 Smoke Grenade 
     Launchers, U.S. Government and contractor representatives' 
     technical assistance, engineering and logistics support 
     services, and other related elements of logistics support. 
     The total estimated program cost is $750 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

[[Page S6489]]

     stability, military balance, economic and progress in the 
     region.
       This proposed sale of M109A6 SPH will contribute to the 
     modernization of the recipient's self-propelled howitzer 
     fleet, enhancing its ability to meet current and future 
     threats. These systems will contribute to the recipient's 
     goal of updating its military capability while further 
     enhancing interoperability with the United States and other 
     allies. 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 prime contractor for the Self-Propelled Howitzer 
     Systems will be BAE Systems, Anniston, AL, and Elgin, OK; 
     M992A2 FAASV, Anniston Army Depot (ANAD), Bynum, AL; and 
     M88A2 recovery vehicles, BAE, York, PA. The purchaser has 
     requested offsets. At this time, agreements are undetermined 
     and will be defined in negotiations between the purchaser and 
     contractor.
       Implementation of this proposed sale will not require the 
     permanent assignment of any additional U.S. Government or 
     contractor representatives to recipient. Support teams will 
     travel to recipient on a temporary basis.
       There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness 
     as a result of this proposed sale.


                         Transmittal No. 21-44

     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 Paladin M109A6 howitzer is the fifth product 
     improvement to the original M109 self-propelled howitzer. It 
     features improvements in the areas of survivability; 
     reliability, availability, and maintainability (RAM); 
     responsiveness; and terminal effects. The M109A6 is an 
     armored, full tracked howitzer carrying 37 complete 
     conventional rounds and two Copperhead projectiles and is 
     operated by a crew of four. It is designed with a new turret 
     structure that facilitates integration of the various turret 
     improvements and vulnerability reduction measures. It 
     improves overall crew compartment layout and space. The 
     howitzer can travel at a maximum speed of 38 miles per hour 
     and has a maximum cruising range of 186 miles. The M109A6 can 
     operate independently, on the move, it can receive a fire 
     mission, compute firing data, select and take up its firing 
     position, automatically unlock and point its cannon, fire and 
     move--all without external technical assistance. Firing the 
     first round following a move in under 60 seconds, a ``shoot 
     and scoot'' capability protects the crew from counterbattery 
     fire. The M109A6 is capable of firing up to four rounds per 
     minute to ranges of 30 kilometers. The M109A6 features 
     increased survivability characteristics such as day/night 
     operability, Nuclear, Biological, Chemical (NBC) protection 
     with climate control and secure voice and digital 
     communications. The crew remains in the vehicle throughout 
     the mission.
       2. The Inertial Navigation Unit (INU) component provides 
     the vehicle with its own position location utilizing sensors 
     that continuously calculates its direction and velocity 
     without the continuous dependency of a GPS; the INU receives 
     GPS data from an external GPS receiver as an input when 
     available to provide better precision. The INU allows the 
     vehicle to more precisely calculate its position to other 
     components in the vehicle to improve its functions and safety 
     of use; these functions include movement and maneuver of the 
     vehicle, movement of the turret, and pointing of the gun 
     tube.
       3. The Electronic Fire Control System (EFCS) commonly 
     referred to as the Paladin Fire Control System (PFCS) is the 
     major change for the Paladin M109A6 Howitzer from the manual 
     fire control system used on the M109A5. This gives the 
     howitzer the ability to operate over a widely dispersed area 
     and to move and emplace using the on board fire control 
     navigation and GPS system. The MI09A6 can move and position 
     within an assigned position area, process technical firing 
     data, and fire a mission without relying on aiming circles 
     and wire lines. The M109A6 can change position more 
     frequently, an advantage against enemy fire. Such 
     advancements give new meaning to the artillery's ability to 
     move, shoot and communicate. In addition, the EFCS with 
     embedded electronic diagnostics improves maintenance and 
     repair functions by assisting in pinpointing faults.
       4. The Defense Advanced GPS (Global Positioning System) 
     Receiver (DAGR) is a lightweight (less than 2 pounds) hand-
     held or host platform-mounted, dual frequency (L1/L2), 
     Selective Availability Anti-Spoofing Module (SAASM) based, 
     Precise Positioning Service (PPS) device that receives and 
     decodes the L1 and L2 signals-in-space which are transmitted 
     by the NAVSTAR GPS satellite constellation. The DAGR provides 
     real-time positioning, velocity (ground speed), navigation, 
     and timing (PVNT) information, in standalone (dismounted) and 
     mounted (ground facilities, sea, air, and land vehicles) 
     configurations. The DAGR can support missions involving land-
     based war-fighting and non-war fighting operations. The DAGR 
     can also be used as a secondary or supplemental aid to 
     aviation-based missions which involve operations in low-
     dynamic aircraft, and as an aid to navigation in water-borne 
     operations.
       5. The M1156 Precision Guidance Kit (PGK) is a Global 
     Positioning System (GPS) Guidance Kit with fuzing functions 
     for the M795 and M549A1 155mm High Explosive (HE) Artillery 
     Projectiles. The PGK corrects the ballistic trajectory of the 
     projectile to reduce delivery errors and thus improves 
     projectile accuracy. The PGK will effectively reduce target 
     delivery error of conventional artillery munitions and reduce 
     the number of projectiles required to execute a fire mission.
       6. The 155mm M232Al Propelling Charge (DODIC DA13), will be 
     used in M109 series howitzers. The Modular Artillery Charge 
     System (MACS) consists of two propelling charge module types, 
     the M231 and the M232/M232A1, and their associated packaging. 
     The system is compatible with all current and planned 155mm 
     field artillery weapons.
       7. The M82 Percussion Primer (DODIC N523) will be used in 
     M109 series howitzers.
       8. The International Field Artillery Tactical Data System 
     is the international export version of the Army's Advanced 
     Field Artillery Tactical Data System (AFATDS). It provides 
     networked and fully automated support for the planning, 
     coordination, control, and execution of fires and effects 
     such as mortars, field artillery, rockets and missiles, and 
     close air support. International versions are developed for 
     each customer unique to the weapon and targeting systems in 
     their inventory.
       9. Field Artillery Ammunition Support Vehicle (FAASV) 
     M992A2 this ammunition vehicle has no turret, but has a 
     taller superstructure to store 95 rounds with a corresponding 
     number of powders and primers. Until recently, much of the 
     remaining internal crew space was taken up by a hydraulically 
     powered conveyor system designed to allow the quick uploading 
     of rounds or their transfer to the M109-series howitzer.
       10. Heavy Equipment Recovery Combat Utility Lift and 
     Evacuation System (HERCULES) Improved Recovery Vehicle--M88A2 
     recovers tanks mired to different depths removes and replaces 
     tank turrets and power packs, and uprights overturned heavy 
     combat vehicles. The main winch of the M88A2 is capable of a 
     70-ton, single-line recovery, allowing the HERCULES to 
     provide recovery of the 70-Ton M1A2 Abrams Tank.
       11. The A-frame boom and hoist winch of the M88A2 can lift 
     35 tons. The spade can be used to anchor the vehicle when 
     using the main winch and can be used for light earth moving 
     to prepare a recovery area. The M88A2 employs an auxiliary 
     power unit to provide auxiliary electrical and hydraulic 
     power when the main engine is not in operation. It can also 
     be used to slave start other vehicles, as well as a means to 
     refuel or defuel vehicles. The M88A2 can refuel Abrams tanks 
     from its own fuel tank.
       12. The Browning M2 is an air-cooled, belt-fed machine gun. 
     The M2 fires from a closed bolt, operated on the short recoil 
     principle. The M2 fires the .50 BMG cartridge, which offers 
     long range, accuracy, and immense stopping power.
       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 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.
       15. 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.
       16. All defense articles and services listed in this 
     transmittal have been authorized for release and export to 
     the recipient.

                          ____________________