[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.
____________________