[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 37 (Monday, February 27, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Page S500]
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,
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. 23-18,
concerning the Navy's proposed Letter(s) of Offer and
Acceptance to the Government of Australia for defense
articles and services estimated to cost $506 million. We will
issue a news release to notify the public of this proposed
sale upon delivery of this letter to your office.
Sincerely,
Mike Miller
(For James A. Hursch, Director).
Enclosures.
Transmittal No. 23-18
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 * $302 million.
Other $204 million.
Total $506 million.
(iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or
Services under Consideration for Purchase:
Major Defense Equipment (MDE): Up to sixty-three (63)
Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missiles-Extended Range
(AARGM-ERs).
Up to twenty (20) AARGM-ER Captive Air Training Missiles
(CATMs).
Non-MDE: Also included are AGM-88G Advanced Anti-Radiation
Guided Missile-Extended Range Dummy Air Training Missiles
(AARGM-ER DATMs), containers, component parts and support
equipment; Repair of Repairables; software (Classified and
Unclassified); publications (Classified and Unclassified);
training (Classified and Unclassified); transportation; U.S.
Government and contractor engineering support; and other
related elements of logistical and program support.
(iv) Military Department: Navy (AT-P-ASA).
(v) Prior Related Cases, if any: None.
(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: February 27,
2023.
*As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control
Act.
POLICY JUSTIFICATION
Australia--Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missiles-Extended Range
(AARGM-ER)
The Government of Australia has requested to buy up to
sixty-three (63) Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missiles-
Extended Range (AARGM-ERs); and up to twenty (20) AARGM-ER
Captive Air Training Missiles (CATMs). Also included are AGM-
88G Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile-Extended Range
Dummy Air Training Missiles (AARGM-ER DATMs), containers,
component parts and support equipment; Repair of Repairables;
software (Classified and Unclassified); publications
(Classified and Unclassified); training (Classified and
Unclassified); transportation; U.S. Government and Contractor
engineering support; and other related elements of logistical
and program support. The estimated total cost is $506
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. This capability denies the adversary the use of its
air defense systems, thereby improving the survivability of
Australia's 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 prime U.S. contractor will be the Javelin Joint Venture
between Lockheed Martin in Orlando, FL and Raytheon Missiles
and Defense in Tucson, AZ. There are no known offset
agreements proposed in connection with this potential sale.
Implementation of this proposed sale will require U.S.
Government personnel and U.S. 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. 23-18
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-88G Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile-
Extended Range (AARGM-ER) 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-ER provides suppression or destruction of enemy RADAR
and denies the enemy the use of air defense systems, thereby
improving the survivability of our tactical aircraft. The
AGM-88G AARGM-ER 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
Australia.
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