[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 67 (Monday, April 25, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2125-S2126]
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)(1) of the Arms Export Control Act, as 
     amended, we are forwarding herewith Transmittal No. 22-23, 
     concerning the Navy's proposed Letter(s) of Offer and 
     Acceptance to the Government of Australia for defense 
     articles and services estimated to cost $42 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. 22-23

     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* $40 million.
       Other $2 million.
       Total $42 million.
       (iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or 
     Services under Consideration for Purchase:
       Major Defense Equipment (MDE):
       One hundred six (106) Multifunctional Information 
     Distribution System Joint Tactical Radio System (MIDS JTRS) 
     (5) Terminals.
       Fifteen (15) Multifunctional Information Distribution 
     System Joint Tactical Radio System (MIDS JTRS) (6) Terminals.
       Seven (7) Multifunctional Information Distribution System 
     MIDS-Low Volume Terminal (MIDS-LVT) (4) Block Upgrade Two 
     (BU2) Retrofit Kits.
       Non-MDE: Also included are Low Volume Terminal (LVT) 
     Cryptographic Modules (LCM).
       (iv) Military Department: Navy (AT-P-LGM).
       (v) Prior Related Cases, if any: AT-P-LFT.
       (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: April 19, 2022.
       *As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control 
     Act.


                          POLICY JUSTIFICATION

  Australia--Defense Articles Related to Multifunctional Information 
            Distribution System Joint Tactical Radio Systems

       The Government of Australia has requested to buy one 
     hundred six (106) Multifunctional Information Distribution 
     System Joint Tactical Radio System (MIDS JTRS) (5) terminals; 
     fifteen (15) MIDS JTRS (6) terminals; and seven (7) 
     Multifunctional Information Distribution System MIDS-Low 
     Volume Terminal (MIDS-LVT) (4) Block Upgrade Two (BU2) 
     retrofit kits. Also included are Low Volume Terminal (LVT) 
     Cryptographic Modules (LCM). The estimated total value is $42 
     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 
     interoperate with U.S. forces and exchange secure, jam-
     resistant tactical data via Link 16. Australia will use the 
     enhanced capability as a deterrent to regional threats and 
     strengthen its homeland defense. Australia will have no 
     difficulty absorbing this equipment 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 Viasat, Carlsbad, CA; and 
     Data Link Solutions, Cedar Rapids, IA. There are no known 
     offset agreements proposed in connection with this potential 
     sale.
       Implementation of the proposed sale may 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.


                         Transmittal No. 22-23

     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/USQ-140 Multifunctional Information Distribution 
     System-Low Volume Terminal (MIDS-LVT) is a secure, jam-
     resistant communication and positioning system that employs a 
     defined waveform in the 960-1215 megahertz (MHz) Ultra High 
     Frequency (UHF) range for packet message communication and 16 
     Kilobit digital voice and packet message communication. MIDS 
     provides interoperability with NATO and coalition users, 
     significantly increasing force command and control (C2) 
     effectiveness. The Tactical Digital Information Link-J

[[Page S2126]]

     (TADIL-J) series message standard is employed by the system 
     as defined in NATO Standardization Agreement (STANAG) 5516 
     and U.S. Military Standard (MIL-STD) 6016. The embedded 
     hardware features provide communications security. The AN/
     USQ-190 Multifunctional Information Distribution System Joint 
     Tactical Radio System (MIDS JTRS) builds on MIDS-LVT's 
     capabilities with the addition of Concurrent Multi-Netting 
     (CMN) and Concurrent Contention Receive (CCR) functions. CMN 
     and CCR dramatically expand the number of platforms and 
     network-enabled systems that can be reliably included in a 
     Link 16 network. These enhancements allow a single MIDS JTRS 
     terminal to simultaneously receive messages on up to four 
     nets, compared with on a single net in terminals without CMN 
     and CCR, within a single Link 16 time slot, allowing a user 
     to ``hear'' messages from up to three additional sources at 
     once. Tactical Targeting Network Technology (TTNT) is built 
     into some MIDS JTRS terminals that adds an additional 
     advanced capability waveform.
       2. The highest level of classification of defense articles, 
     components, and services included in this potential sale is 
     SECRET.
       3. In 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 articles and services listed in this 
     transmittal have been authorized for release and export to 
     the Government of Australia.

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