[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.

                          ____________________