[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.

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