[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 158 (Tuesday, September 14, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6492-S6493]
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)(5)(A) of the Arms Export Control Act (AECA),
as amended, we are forwarding Transmittal No. OU-21. This
notification relates to enhancements or upgrades from the
level of sensitivity of technology or capability described in
the Section 36(b)(1) AECA certification 17-12 of June 23,
2017.
Sincerely,
Jedidiah P. Royal,
Deputy Director.
[[Page S6493]]
Enclosures.
Transmittal No. OU-21
Report of Enhancement or Upgrade of Sensitivity of Technology
or Capability (Sec. 36(B)(5)(A), AECA)
(i) Purchaser: Government of Australia
(ii) Sec. 36(b)(1), AECA Transmittal No.: 17-12.
Date: June 23, 2017.
Military Department: Air Force.
(iii) Description: On June 23, 2017, Congress was notified
by Congressional certification transmittal number 17-12 of
the possible sale under Section 36(b)(1) of the Arms Export
Control Act of up to five (5) Gulfstream G-550 aircraft
modified to integrate Airborne Intelligence, Surveillance,
Reconnaissance, and Electronic Warfare (AISREW) mission
systems, Global Positioning System (GPS) capability, secure
communications, aircraft defensive systems; spares, including
whole life costs of airborne and ground segments; aircraft
modification and integration; ground systems for data
processing and crew training; ground support equipment;
publications and technical data; U.S. Government and
contractor engineering, technical and logistics support
services; flight test and certification; and other related
elements of logistical and program support. The estimated
total cost was $1.3 billion. Major Defense Equipment (MDE)
constituted $.04 billion of this total.
On August 26, 2020, Congress was notified by Congressional
certification transmittal number 20-0J of Australia's request
for the inclusion of the following non-MDE items and
services: spares and repair/return parts; consumables and
support equipment; publications and technical documentation;
maintenance, training and training equipment; U.S. Government
and contractor flight test and certification, aircraft
modification and integration, engineering, technical and
logistics support services; and other related elements of
logistical and program support. These additional items
resulted in an increase in non-MDE cost of $500 million,
causing a revised total cost for non-MDE of $1.76 billion.
Major Defense Equipment (MDE) remained $.04 billion. The
total estimated case value increased by $500 million to $1.8
billion.
This transmittal reports the addition of the following MDE
item: one (1) LN-200 Embedded GPS-INS sensor. The total cost
of the new MDE item is $300,000. This will not result in a
net increase in the total cost of MDE. The total MDE value
will remain $.04 billion. The total estimated case value will
remain $1.8 billion.
(iv) Significance: This notification is being provided to
report the inclusion of an MDE item not previously notified.
The inclusion of this MDE represents an increase in
capability over what was previously notified. The additional
equipment is required to support Australia's efforts to
modernize its Electronic Warfare support capability and
increases interoperability between the U.S. Air Force and the
Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF).
(v) Justification: This proposed sale supports the foreign
policy and national security objectives of the United States
by improving the security of a Major Non-NATO Ally that is a
key partner of the United States in ensuring peace and
stability around the world.
(vi) Sensitivity of Technology: The Sensitivity of
Technology Statement contained in the original notification
applies to item reported here.
(vii) Date Report Delivered to Congress: August 25, 2021.
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