[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 106 (Wednesday, June 22, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3066-S3067]
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
[[Page S3067]]
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. 22-27,
concerning the Navy's proposed Letter(s) of Offer and
Acceptance to the Government of Australia for defense
articles and services estimated to cost $94 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. 22-27
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 * $52 million.
Other $42 million.
Total $94 million.
(iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or
Services under Consideration for Purchase:
Major Defense Equipment (MDE):
Up to fifteen (15) AGM-88E2 Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided
Missile (AARGM) Guidance Sections.
Up to fifteen (15) AARGM Control Sections.
Up to fifteen (15) High Speed Anti-Radiation Missiles
(HARM) Rocket Motors.
Up to fifteen (15) HARM Warheads.
Up to fifteen (15) HARM Control Sections.
Non-MDE: Also included are AGM-88E2 AARGM All Up Round
(AUR) tactical missiles; AGM-88E2 AARGM Captive Air Training
Missile (CATM); HARM G-Code AUR; HARM G-Code CATM; M-Code GPS
receivers; containers; support and test equipment; EA-18G
Growler test support; spare and repair parts; software
(Classified and Unclassified); U.S. Government and contractor
engineering support; and other related elements of logistical
and program support.
(iv) Military Department: Navy (AT-P-AQT).
(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: June 21, 2022.
* As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control
Act.
POLICY JUSTIFICATION
Australia--AGM-88E2 AARGM E2 Missiles
The Government of Australia has requested to buy up to
fifteen (15) AGM-88E2 Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile
(AARGM) Guidance Sections; up to fifteen (15) AARGM Control
Sections; up to fifteen (15) High Speed Anti-Radiation
Missiles (HARM) Rocket Motors; up to fifteen (15) HARM
Warheads; and up to fifteen (15) HARM Control Sections. Also
included are AGM-88E2 AARGM All Up Round (AUR) tactical
missiles; AGM-88E2 AARGM Captive Air Training Missile (CATM);
HARM G-Code AUR; HARM G-Code CATM; M-Code GPS receivers;
containers; support and test equipment; EA-18G Growler test
support; spare and repair parts; software (Classified and
Unclassified); U.S. Government and contractor engineering
support; and other related elements of logistical and program
support. The estimated total value is $94 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 suppressing and destroying
land- or sea-based radar emitters associated with enemy air
defenses. Destruction or suppression of enemy radar denies
the adversary the use of air defense systems, thereby
improving the survivability of its tactical aircraft.
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 Northrop Grumman
Information Systems (NGIS), Ridgecrest, CA. 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 representatives 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. 22-27
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 AGM-88E2 Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile
(AARGM) weapon system is an air-to-ground missile intended
for Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses (SEAD) and Destruction
of Enemy Air Defenses (DEAD) missions. The AARGM E2 provides
suppression or destruction of enemy radar and denies the
enemy the use of air defense systems, thereby improving the
survivability of tactical aircraft. The AGM-88E2 AARGM
Captive Air Training Missiles (CATM) is used by pilots when
training for SEAD/DEAD missions.
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 articles and services listed in this
transmittal have been authorized for release and export to
the Government of Australia.
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