[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 36 (Monday, February 28, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Pages S832-S833]
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. 22-15,
concerning the Air Force's proposed Letter(s) of Offer and
Acceptance to the Government of Australia for defense
articles and services estimated to cost $122 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,
James A, Hursch,
Director.
Enclosures.
Transmittal No. 22-15
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 * $34 million.
Other $88 million.
Total $122 million.
(iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or
Services under Consideration for Purchase: The Government of
Australia has requested the possible sale of AN/AAQ 24(V)N
Large Aircraft Infrared Countermeasures (LAIRCM) component
systems required to support an ongoing upgrade of its large
Air Mobility Platforms, which include C-17As, KC-30As, and C-
130Js.
Major Defense Equipment (MDE):
Twenty-seven (27) AN/AAQ 24(V)N Large Aircraft Infrared
Countermeasures (LAIRCM) System Processor Replacements (LSPR)
(27 installed, 0 spares).
Thirty (30) Guardian Laser Turret Assemblies (GLTA) (30
installed, 0 spares).
Non-MDE: Also included are LAIRCM Control Indicator Unit
Replacements (CIURs); Advanced Threat Missile Warning Sensors
(ATWs); Smart Card Assemblies (SCAs); High Capacity Cards/
User Data Memory Cards (HCCs/UDMs) (installed and spares);
Simple Key Loaders; initial spares, consumables, and repair/
return support; support and test equipment; integration and
test support; personnel training, publications and technical
documentation; U.S. Government and contractor engineering,
technical and logistics support services; and other related
elements of logistical and program support.
[[Page S833]]
(iv) Military Department: Air Force (AT-D-BAA).
(v) Prior Related Cases, if any: AT-D-QCR, AT-D-QAE, AT-D-
QCS, AT-D-SAQ, AT-D-SEN, AT-D-SGT.
(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: February 22,
2022.
* As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control
Act.
POLICY JUSTIFICATION
Australia--LAIRCM Line Replaceable Units (LRUs)
The Government of Australia has requested the possible sale
of AN/AAQ 24(V)N Large Aircraft Infrared Countermeasures
(LAIRCM) component systems required to support an ongoing
upgrade of its large Air Mobility Platforms, which include C-
17As, KC-30As, and C-130Js. As such, the Government of
Australia has requested to buy twenty-seven (27) AN/AAQ
24(V)N Large Aircraft Infrared Countermeasures (LAIRCM)
System Processor Replacements (LSPR) (27 installed, 0
spares); and thirty (30) Guardian Laser Turret Assemblies
(GLTA) (30 installed, 0 spares). Also included are LAIRCM
Control Indicator Unit Replacements (CIURs); Advanced Threat
Missile Warning Sensors (ATWs); Smart Card Assemblies (SCAs);
High Capacity Cards/User Data Memory Cards (HCCs/UDMs)
(installed and spares); Simple Key Loaders; initial spares,
consumables, and repair/return support; support and test
equipment; integration and test support; personnel training,
publications and technical documentation; U.S. Government and
contractor engineering, technical and logistics support
services; and other related elements of logistical and
program support. The estimated total value is $122 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.
The proposed sale will improve Australia's capability to
meet current and future threats by providing modern
protection for large air mobility platforms. These
countermeasures are crucial to defeating modern threats.
Australia will have no difficulty absorbing these articles
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 Northrup Grumman
Corporation, Rolling Meadows, IL; and The Boeing Company,
Long Beach, CA, and San Antonio, TX. There are no known
offset agreements proposed in connection with this potential
sale.
Implementation of this proposed sale will require the
assignment of 0.5 Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) additional U.S.
Government representatives and 0.5 FTE U.S. contractor
representatives to support Australia from the U.S. for a
duration of five (5) years to support program management and
engineering activities necessary to field and sustain LAIRCM
on multiple Royal Australian Air Force platforms.
There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness
as a result of this proposed sale.
Transmittal No. 22-15
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 AN/AAQ-24(V)N LAIRCM system is a self-contained,
directed-energy countermeasures system designed to protect
aircraft from infrared-guided surface-to-air missiles. The
LAIRCM system features digital technology micro-miniature
solid-state electronics. The system operates in all
conditions, detecting incoming missiles and jamming infrared-
seeker equipped missiles with aimed bursts of laser energy.
The LAIRCM system consists of the Guardian Laser Transmitter
Assembly (GLTA), LAIRCM System Processor Replacement (LSPR),
multiple Advanced Threat Missile Warning Sensors (ATW), the
Control Interface Unit Replacement (CIUR), and the Classified
Memory Card User Data Module. The AN/PYQ-10 Simple Key Loader
is also a necessary device.
2. The Guardian Laser Transmitter Assembly (GLTA) is a
laser transmitter pointer/tracker subsystem designed to track
the inbound threat missile and point the laser jam source at
the missile's seeker. The GLTA automatically deploys the
countermeasure.
3. The LAIRCM System Processor Replacement (LSPR) analyzes
the data from each Missile Warning Sensor and automatically
deploys the appropriate countermeasure via the GLTA. The LSPR
contains Built-in-Test (BIT) circuitry.
4. The AN/PYQ-10 Simple Key Loader is a portable, hand-held
device used for securely receiving, storing, and transferring
data between compatible cryptographic and communications
equipment.
5. The Advanced Threat Missile Warning Sensors (ATW) detect
and declare threat missiles. The sensors are mounted on the
aircraft exterior to provide omni-directional protection. The
sensors detect the rocket plume of missiles and send
appropriate data signals to the LSPR for processing.
6. The Control Interface Unit Replacement (CIUR) displays
the incoming threat for the pilot to take appropriate action.
The CIUR also provides operator interface to program the
LAIRCM system to initiate built-in-test (BIT), to display
system status, and to provide the crew with bearing to threat
missile launch.
7. The Classified Memory Card User Data Module contains the
laser jam codes. The Classified Memory Card User Data Module
is loaded into the LSPR prior to flight; when not in use, the
Classified Memory Card User Data Module is removed from the
LSPR and put in secure storage.
8. The highest level of classification of defense articles,
components, and services included in this potential sale is
SECRET.
9. 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.
10. 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.
11. All defense articles and services listed in this
transmittal have been authorized for release and export to
the Government of Australia.
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