[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 200 (Tuesday, December 5, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Page S5741]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
ARMS SALES NOTIFICATION
Mr. CARDIN. 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. Benjamin L. Cardin,
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. 23-84,
concerning the Navy's proposed Letter(s) of Offer and
Acceptance to the Government of Australia for defense
articles and services estimated to cost $2.0 billion. We will
issue a news release to notify the public of this proposed
sale upon delivery of this letter to your office.
Sincerely,
James A. Hursch,
Director.
Enclosures.
Transmittal No. 23-84
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* $0.
Other $2.0 billion.
Total $2.0 billion.
(iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or
Services under Consideration for Purchase: The Government of
Australia has requested to buy articles and services in
support of the Trilateral AUKUS Pillar I program.
Major Defense Equipment (MDE):
None.
Non-MDE: Included are training devices, personnel training,
planning, and Non-Recurring Engineering (NRE) services;
support equipment; special tools; training software and
courseware; design; supply chain and industrial base support;
facilities and construction support; publications and
technical documentation; personnel training and training
equipment; U.S. Government and contractor engineering,
technical, and logistics support services; test and trials
support; studies and surveys; other related elements of
engineering and repair services for associated equipment and
program support; and other related elements of logistic and
program support. U.S. training of private Australian industry
personnel will occur only after explicitly authorized by the
U.S. Department of State under U.S. law.
(iv) Military Department: Navy (AT-P-BTQ).
(v) Prior Related Cases, if any: AT-P-FBG.
(vi) Sales Commission, Fee, etc., Paid, Offered, or Agreed
to be Paid: None known.
(vii) Sensitivity of Technology Contained in the Defense
Article or Defense Services Proposed to be Sold: None.
(viii) Date Report Delivered to Congress: December 1, 2023.
*As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control
Act.
Policy Justification
Australia--AUKUS Training and Training Devices
The Government of Australia has requested to buy articles
and services in support of the Trilateral AUKUS Pillar I
program. Included are training devices, personnel training,
planning, and Non-Recurring Engineering (NRE) services;
support equipment; special tools; training software/ and
courseware; design; supply chain and industrial base support;
facilities and construction support; publications and
technical documentation; personnel training and training
equipment; U.S. Government and contractor engineering,
technical, and logistics support services; test and trials
support; studies and surveys; other related elements of
engineering, and repair services for associated equipment and
program support; and other related elements of logistic and
program support. U.S. training of private Australian industry
personnel will occur only after explicitly authorized by the
U.S. Department of State under U.S. law. The estimated total
program cost is $2.0 billion.
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 an effective
combatant deterrent capability to protect maritime interests
and infrastructure in support of its strategic mission. The
acquisition will lay the groundwork for the Australia/United
Kingdom/United States (AUKUS) trilateral agreement. Australia
will have no difficulty absorbing this equipment and services
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 Huntington Ingalls
Industries, Newport News, VA; General Dynamics Electric Boat,
Groton, CT; and Systems Planning Analysis, Alexandria, VA.
There are no known offset agreements in connection with this
potential sale.
Implementation of this proposed sale requires the
assignment of approximately seventy (70) additional U.S.
Government and contractor representatives to Australia for a
duration of approximately three (3) years to support in-
person training, equipment familiarization, and onsite
engineering and maintenance of simulation and training
devices.
There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness
as a result of this proposed sale.
____________________