[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 188 (Tuesday, October 26, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7364-S7365]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
ARMS SALES NOTIFICATION
Mr. MENENDEZ. Madam 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. 21-61,
concerning the Navy's proposed Letter(s) of Offer and
Acceptance to the Government of Australia for defense
articles and services estimated to cost $985 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,
Jedidiah P. Royal,
Deputy Director.
Enclosures.
Transmittal No. 21-61
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 * $665 million.
Other $320 million.
Total $985 million.
(iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or
Services under Consideration for Purchase:
Major Defense Equipment (MDE):
Twelve (12) MH-60R Multi-Mission Helicopters.
Thirty (30) T-700-GE-401C Engines (24 installed, 6 spares).
Twelve (12) APS-153(V) Multi-Mode Radars (installed).
Twelve (12) AN/AAS-44C(V) Multi-Spectral Targeting Systems
(installed).
Thirty-four (34) Embedded Global Positioning System/Precise
Positioning Service (GPS/PPS)/Inertial Navigation Systems
(EGI) with Selective Availability/Anti-Spoofing Module
(SAASM) (24 installed, 10 spares).
Twenty (20) Link 16 Multifunctional Information
Distribution Systems (MIDS)--Joint Tactical Radio System
(JTRS) (12 installed, 8 spares).
Twelve (12) GAU-61 Digital Rocket Launchers (aircraft
provisions only).
Twelve (12) Airborne Low Frequency Sonars (ALFS) (aircraft
provisions only).
Eighteen (18) AN/AAR-47 Missile Warning Systems (12
installed, 6 spares).
Eighteen (18) AN/ALE-47 Chaff and Flare Dispenser,
Electronic Countermeasures (12 installed, 6 spares).
Twelve (12) AN/ ALQ-210 Electronic Support Measures (ESM)
Systems (installed).
Twenty-four (24) M299 Missile Launchers.
Twelve (12) GAU-21 Crew Served Guns aircraft provisions
(installed, includes aircraft adapter, ammunition bin, and
other accessories).
Twelve (12) M240D Crew Served Gun Cradles (installed).
Eighteen (18) AN/ARQ-59 Hawklink Radio Terminals (12
installed, 6 spares).
Non-MDE: Also included are AN/ARC-210 RT-2036 UHF/VHF
radios with Communications Security (COMSEC); AN/APX-123
Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) transponders; KIV-78; KIV-
6; KOV-21; KGV-135A; Advanced Data Transfer Systems (ADTS);
Airborne Low Frequency Sonars (ALFS) Training Simulators/
Operational Machine Interface Assistants (ATS OMIA); spare
engine containers; trade studies with industry to determine
the feasibility and cost of implementing provisions for
additional passenger seating and modifications to achieve
enhanced crew survivability; defense services; spare and
repair parts; support and test equipment; communication
equipment; ferry support; publications and technical
documentation; personnel training and training equipment;
United States (U.S.) Government and contractor engineering,
technical, and logistics support services; obsolescence
engineering, integration, and test activities required to
ensure readiness for the production of the Australian MH-60R
helicopters; and other related elements of programmatic,
technical and logistics support.
(iv) Military Department: Navy (AT-P-SCO).
(v) Prior Related Cases, if any: AT-P-SCF, AT-P-GXO, AT-P-
KOA, AT-P-KOB, AT-P-REZ.
(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: October 8, 2021.
* As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control
Act.
POLICY JUSTIFICATION
Australia--MH-60R Multi-Mission Helicopters and Related Defense
Services
The Government of Australia has requested to buy twelve
(I2) MH-60R Multi-Mission helicopters; thirty (30) T-700-GE-
401 C engines (24 installed, 6 spares); twelve (12) APS-
153(V) Multi-Mode Radars (installed); twelve (12) AN/AAS-
44C(V) Multi-Spectral Targeting Systems (installed); thirty-
four (34) Embedded Global Positioning System/Precise
Positioning Service (GPS/PPS)/Inertial Navigation Systems
(EGI) with Selective Availability/ Anti-Spoofing Module
(SAASM) (24 installed, 10 spares); twenty (20) Link 16
Multifunctional Information Distribution Systems (MIDS)--
Joint Tactical Radio System (JTRS) (12 installed, 8 spares);
twelve (12) GAU-61 Digital Rocket Launchers (aircraft
provisions only); twelve (l2) Airborne Low Frequency Sonars
(ALFS) (aircraft provisions only); eighteen (18) AN/AAR-47
Missile Warning Systems (12 installed, 6 spares); eighteen
(18) AN/ALE-47 Chaff and Flare Dispenser, Electronic
Countermeasures (12 installed, 6 spares); twelve (12) AN/ALQ-
210 Electronic Support Measures (ESM) Systems (installed);
twenty-four (24) M299 Missile Launchers; twelve (12) GAU-21
Crew Served Guns aircraft provisions (installed, includes
aircraft adapter, ammunition bin, and other accessories);
twelve (12) M240D Crew Served Gun Cradles (installed); and
eighteen (18) AN/ARQ-59 Hawklink Radio Terminals (12
installed, 6 spares). Also included are AN/ARC-210 RT-2036
UHF/VHF radios with Communications Security (COMSEC); AN/APX-
123 Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) transponders; KIV-78;
KIV-6; KOV-21; KGV-135A; Advanced Data Transfer Systems
(ADTS); Airborne Low Frequency Sonars (ALFS) Training
Simulators/Operational Machine Interface Assistants (ATS
OMIA); spare engine containers; trade studies with industry
to determine the feasibility and cost of implementing
provisions for additional passenger seating and modifications
to achieve enhanced crew survivability; defense services;
spare and repair parts; support and test equipment;
communication equipment; ferry support; publications and
technical documentation; personnel training and training
equipment; United States (U.S.) Government and contractor
engineering, technical, and logistics support services;
obsolescence engineering, integration, and test activities
required to ensure readiness for the production of the
Australian MH-60R helicopters; and other related elements of
programmatic, technical and logistics support. The total
estimated value is $985 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 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.
This proposed sale will improve Australia's capability to
perform anti-surface and antisubmarine warfare missions along
with the ability to perform secondary missions including
vertical replenishment, search and rescue, and communications
relay. Australia will use the enhanced capability as a
deterrent to regional threats and to strengthen its homeland
defense. Australia will have no difficulty absorbing this
equipment into its armed forces.
The proposed sale of this equipment will not alter the
basic military balance in the region.
The principal U.S. contractor will be Lockheed Martin
Rotary and Mission Systems, Owego, NY. There are no known
offset agreements proposed in connection with this potential
sale.
Implementation of the proposed sale will require U.S.
Government and contractor personnel to visit Australia on a
temporary basis in conjunction with program technical
oversight and support requirements, including program and
technical reviews.
There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness
as a result of this proposed sale.
[[Page S7365]]
Transmittal No. 21-61
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 MH-60R Multi-Mission Helicopter is employed
primarily for anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare
missions. The MH-60R carries several sensors and data links
to enhance its ability to work in a network-centric battle
group and as an extension of its home ship/main operating
base. The mission systems consist of the following sensors
and subsystems: an acoustics system consisting of a dipping
sonar, sonobuoys, and acoustics processor; MultiMode Radar
(MMR) with integrated Identification Friend or Foe (IFF)
interrogator; Radios with COMSEC; Electronic Support Measures
(ESM); Integrated Self-Defense (ISD); and Multi-Spectral
Targeting System (MTS).
a. GPS/PPS/SAASM--Global Positioning System provides a
space-based Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) that
has reliable location and time information in all weather and
at all times and anywhere on or near the earth when and where
there is an unobstructed line of sight to four or more OPS
satellites. Selective Availability/Anti-Spoofing Module
(SAASM) is used by military OPS receivers to allow decryption
of precision OPS coordinates. In addition, the OPS Antenna
System (GAS-I) provides protection from enemy manipulation of
the OPS system.
b. The AN/APS-153 multi-mode radar with an integrated IFF
and Inverse Synthetic Aperture (ISAR) provides target
surveillance/detection capability.
c. The AN/ALQ-210 (ESM) system identifies the location of
an emitter. The ability of the system to identify specific
emitters depends on the data provided.
d. The AN/AAS-44C(V) Multi-spectral Targeting System (MTS)
operates in day/night and adverse weather conditions. Imagery
is provided by a Forward-Looking Infrared (FLIR) sensor, a
color/monochrome day television (DTV) camera, and a Low-Light
TV (LLTV).
e. Ultra High Frequency/Very High Frequency (UHF/VHF)
Radios (ARC 210) contain embedded sensitive encryption
algorithms and keying material.
2. The highest level of classification of defense articles,
components, and services included in this potential sale is
SECRET.
3. 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.
4. A determination has been made that 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.
5. All defense services listed in this transmittal have
been authorized for release and export to the Government of
Australia.
____________________