[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 123 (Monday, July 25, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3633-S3634]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
MORNING BUSINESS
______
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,
Washington, DC.
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. 22-49,
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 $235 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,
Jedidiah P. Royal
(For James A. Hursch, Director).
Enclosures.
Transmittal No. 22-49
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 * $157 million.
Other $78 million.
Total $235 million.
(iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or
Services under Consideration for Purchase:
Major Defense Equipment (MDE):
Eighty (80) Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missiles--
Extended Range (JASSM-ER) (AGM-158B with telemetry kits and/
or AGM-158B-2 configurations).
Non-MDE: Also included are missile containers and support
equipment; JASSM training missiles; weapon system support;
spare parts, consumables, accessories, and
[[Page S3634]]
repair/return support; integration and test support and
equipment; personnel training; software delivery and support;
classified and unclassified publications and technical
documentation; transportation; U.S. Government and contractor
engineering, technical and logistics support services,
studies and surveys; and other related elements of logistical
and program support.
(iv) Military Department: Air Force (AT-D-YAK).
(v) Prior Related Cases, if any: AT-D-QAR.
(vi) Sales Commission, Fee, etc., Paid, Offered, or Agreed
to be Paid: None known at this time.
(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: July 21, 2022.
* As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control
Act.
POLICY JUSTIFICATION
Australia--Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missiles--Extended Range
(JASSM-ER)
The Government of Australia has requested to buy eighty
(80) Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missiles--Extended Range
(JASSM-ER) (AGM-158B with telemetry kits and/or AGM-158B-2
configurations). Also included are missile containers and
support equipment; JASSM training missiles; weapon system
support; spare parts, consumables, accessories, and repair/
return support; integration and test support and equipment;
personnel training; software delivery and support; classified
and unclassified publications and technical documentation;
transportation; U.S. Government and contractor engineering,
technical and logistics support services, studies and
surveys; and other related elements of logistical and program
support. The estimated total cost is $235 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 advanced, long-
range strike systems for employment from Royal Australian Air
Force (RAAF) air platforms including, but not limited to, the
F/A-18F Super Hornet and F-35A Lightning II. 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 contractor will be Lockheed Martin, Orlando,
FL. There are no known offset agreements proposed in
connection with this potential sale.
Implementation of this proposed sale will not require the
assignment of any additional U.S. Government or contractor
representatives to Australia.
There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness
as a result of this proposed sale.
Transmittal No. 22-49
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-158B/B-2 Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missiles
(JASSM) with Extended Range (ER) are low-observable, highly-
survivable, subsonic cruise missiles designed to penetrate
next-generation air defense systems en-route to target. The
JASSM-ER is designed to kill hard, medium-hardened, soft and
area-type targets. A turbo-fan engine and reconfigured fuel
tanks provide added capacity.
a. The AGM-158B-2 system capabilities include all the
capabilities of the AGM-158B. The AGM-158B-2 configuration
will have different internal components to address multiple
obsolescence issues as well as subcomponent updates to
position for M-Code and other potential upgrades.
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.
____________________