[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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