[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 19 (Thursday, February 1, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Pages S335-S337]
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
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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 still available to the full Senate, I ask unanimous
consent to have printed in the Record the notifications that have been
received. If the cover letter references a classified annex, then such
an 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)(l) of the Arms Export Control Act, as
amended, we are forwarding herewith Transmittal No. 23-01,
concerning the Air Force's proposed Letter(s) of Offer and
Acceptance to the Government of Greece for defense articles
and services estimated to cost $8.6 bi11ion. 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. 23-01
Notice of Proposed Issuance of Letter of Offer Pursuant to
Section 36(b)(l) of the Arms Export Control Act, as
amended
(i) Prospective Purchaser: Government of Greece.
(ii) Total Estimated Value: Major Defense Equipment* $6.0
billion
Other $2.6 billion
TOTAL $8.6 billion
Funding Source: National Funds
(iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or
Services under Consideration for Purchase:
Major Defense Equipment (MDE):
Forty (40) F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Conventional Take Off
and Landing (CTOL) Aircraft
Forty-two
(42) Pratt & Whitney Fl35-PW-l00 Engines (40 installed, 2
spares).
Non-MDE: Also included are AN/PYQ-10 Simple Key Loaders;
KGV-135A embedded secure communications devices; Cartridge
Actuated Devices/Propellant Actuated Devices (CAD/PAD);
impulse cartridges, chaff, and flares; Full Mission
Simulators and system trainers; electronic warfare systems
and Reprogramming Lab support; logistics management and
support systems; threat detection, tracking, and targeting
systems; Contractor Logistics Support (CLS); classified
software and software development, delivery and integration
support; transportation, ferry, and refueling support;
weapons containers; aircraft and munitions support and
support equipment; integration and test support and
equipment; aircraft engine component improvement program
(CIP) support; secure communications, precision navigation,
and cryptographic systems and equipment; Identification
Friend or Foe (IFF) equipment; spare and repair parts,
consumables, and accessories, and repair and return support;
minor modifications, maintenance, and maintenance support;
personnel training and training equipment; classified and
unclassified publications and technical documents;
warranties; and U.S. Government and engineering, technical,
and logistics support services, studies, and surveys; and
other related elements of logistics and program support.
(iv) Military Department: Air Force (GR-D-SAD).
(v) Prior Related Cases. if any: None.
(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: January 26, 2024.
*As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control
Act.
policy justification
Greece F-35 Aircraft
The Government of Greece has requested to buy up to forty
(40) F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Conventional Take Off and
Landing (CTOL) aircraft; and forty-two (42) Pratt & Whitney
Fl35-PW-100 engines (40 installed, 2 spares). Also included
are AN/PYQ-10 Simple Key Loaders; KGV-135A embedded secure
communications devices; Cartridge Actuated Devices/Propellant
Actuated Devices (CAD/PAD); impulse cartridges, chaff, and
flares; Full Mission Simulators and system trainers;
electronic warfare systems and Reprogramming Lab support;
logistics management and support systems; threat detection,
tracking, and targeting systems; Contractor Logistics Support
(CLS); classified software and software development, delivery
and integration support; transportation, ferry, and refueling
support; weapons containers; aircraft and munitions support
and support equipment; integration and test support and
equipment; aircraft engine component improvement program
(CIP) support; secure communications, precision navigation,
and cryptographic systems and equipment; Identification
Friend or Foe (IFF) equipment; spare and repair parts,
consumables, and accessories, and repair and return support;
minor modifications, maintenance, and maintenance support;
personnel training and training equipment; classified and
unclassified publications and technical documents;
warranties; and U.S. Government and engineering, technical,
and logistics support services, studies, and surveys; and
other related elements of logistics and program support. The
estimated total cost is $8.6 billion.
This proposed sale will support the foreign policy goals
and national security of the United by improving the air
capabilities and interoperability of a NATO Ally that is a
force for political and economic stability in Europe.
The proposed sale will allow Greece to modernize its air
force and improve Greece's ability to provide for the defense
of its airspace, contribute to NATO missions to preserve
regional security and defend NATO Allies, and maintain
interoperability with U.S. and NATO forces. The F-35 will
offset the increasing obsolescence of other Hellenic Air
Force aircraft such as the F-4 and Mirage 2000. Greece will
have no difficulty absorbing these articles 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 Lockheed Martin
Aeronautics Company, Fort Worth, TX, and Pratt & Whitney
Military Engines, East Hartford, CT. The purchaser typically
requests offsets. Any offset agreement will be defined in
negotiations between the purchaser and the contractor.
Implementation of this proposed sale will not require the
assignment of any additional U.S. Government or contractor
representatives to Greece.
There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness
as a result of this proposed sale.
transmittal no. 23-01
Notice of Proposed Issuance of Letter of Offer Pursuant to
Section 36(b)(l) of the Arms Export Control Act
Annex Item No. vii
(vii) Sensitivity of Technology:
1. The F-35A Conventional Take Off and Landing (CTOL)
aircraft is a single seat, single engine, all-weather,
stealth, fifth-generation, multirole aircraft. It contains
sensitive technology including the low observable airframe/
outer mold line, the Pratt and Whitney F135 engine, AN/APG-81
radar, an integrated core processor central computer, a
mission systems/electronic warfare suite, a multiple sensor
suite, technical data/documentation, and associated software.
a. The Pratt and Whitney Fl35 engine is a single 40,000-lb
thrust class engine designed for the F-35 and assures highly
reliable, affordable performance. The engine is designed to
be utilized in all F-35 variants, providing unmatched
commonality and supportability throughout the worldwide base
of F-35 users.
b. The AN/APG-81 Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA)
is a high processing power/high transmission power electronic
array capable of detecting air and ground targets from a
greater distance than mechanically scanned array radars. It
also contains a synthetic aperture radar (SAR), which creates
high-resolution ground maps, provides weather data to the
pilot, and provides air and ground tracks to the mission
system, which uses it as a component to fuse sensor data.
c. The Electro-Optical Targeting System (EOTS) provides
long-range detection and tracking as well as an infrared
search and track (IRST) and forward-looking infrared (FLIR)
capability for precision tracking, weapons delivery, and bomb
damage assessment (BDA). The EOTS replaces multiple separate
internal or podded systems typically found on legacy
aircraft.
d. The Electro-Optical Distributed Aperture System (EODAS)
provides the pilot with full spherical coverage for air-to-
air and air-to-ground threat awareness, day/night vision
enhancements, a fire control capability and precision
tracking of wingmen/friendly aircraft. The EODAS provides
data directly to the pilot's helmet as well as the mission
system.
e. The F-35 Electronic Warfare (EW) system is a
reprogrammable, integrated system that provides radar warning
and electronic support measures (ESM) along with a fully
integrated countermeasures (CM) system. The EW system is the
primary subsystem used to enhance situational awareness,
targeting support and self-defense through the search,
intercept, location, and identification of in-band emitters
and to automatically counter IR and RF threats.
f. The F-35 Command, Control, Communications, Computers and
Intelligence/ Communications, Navigation, and Identification
(C4I/CNI) system provides the pilot with unmatched
connectivity to flight members, coalition forces and the
battlefield. It is an integrated subsystem designed to
provide a broad spectrum of secure, anti-jam voice and data
communications, precision radio navigation and landing
capability, self-identification, beyond visual range target
identification, and connectivity to off-board
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sources of information. It also includes an inertial
navigation and global positioning system (OPS) for precise
location information. The functionality is tightly integrated
within the mission system to enhance efficiency.
g. The F-35 C4I/CNI system includes two data links: the
Multi-Function Advanced Data Link (MADL) and Link 16. The
MADL is designed specifically for the F-35 and allows for
stealthy communications among F-35s. Link-6 is an advanced
command, control, communications, and intelligence (C3I)
system incorporating jam-resistant, digital communication
links for exchange of near real-time tactical information,
including both data and voice, among air, ground, and sea
elements. It provides the warfighter key theater functions
such as surveillance, identification, air control, weapons
engagement coordination, and direction for all services and
allied forces. Link-16 equipment allows the F-35 to
communicate with legacy aircraft using widely-distributed J-
series message protocols.
h. The F-35 Autonomic Logistics Global Sustainment (ALGS)
provides a fully integrated logistics management solution.
ALGS integrates a number of functional areas, including
supply chain management, repair, support equipment, engine
support, and training. The ALGS infrastructure employs a
state-of-the-art information system that provides real-time,
decision-worthy information for sustainment decisions by
flight line personnel. Prognostic health monitoring
technology is integrated with the air system and is crucial
to predictive maintenance of vital components.
i. The F-35 Autonomic Logistics Information System (ALIS)
provides an intelligent information infrastructure that binds
all the key concepts of ALGS into an effective support
system. ALIS establishes the appropriate interfaces among the
F-35 Air Vehicle, the warfighter, the training system,
government information technology (IT) systems, and
supporting commercial enterprise systems. Additionally, ALIS
provides a comprehensive tool for data collection and
analysis, decision support, and action tracking.
j. The F-35 Training System includes several training
devices to provide integrated training for pilots and
maintainers. The pilot training devices include a Full
Mission Simulator (FMS) and Deployable Mission Rehearsal
Trainer (DMRT). The maintenance training devices include an
Aircraft Systems Maintenance Trainer (ASMT), Ejection System
Maintenance Trainer (ESMT), Outer Mold Line (OML) Lab,
Flexible Linear Shaped Charge (FLSC) Trainer, Fl35 Engine
Module Trainer and Weapons Loading Trainer (WLT). The F-35
Training System can be integrated so both pilots and
maintainers learn in the same Integrated Training Center
(ITC). Alternatively, the pilots and maintainers can train in
separate facilities (Pilot Training Center and Maintenance
Training Center).
k. Other subsystems, features, and capabilities include the
F-35's low observable air frame, Integrated Core Processor
(ICP) Central Computer, Helmet Mounted Display System (HMDS),
Pilot Life Support System (PLSS), Off-Board Mission Support
(OMS) System, and publications/ maintenance manuals. The HMDS
provides a fully sunlight readable, biocular display
presentation of aircraft information projected onto the
pilot's helmet visor. The use of a night vision camera
integrated into the helmet eliminates the need for separate
Night Vision Goggles. The PLSS provides a measure of Pilot
Chemical, Biological, and Radiological Protection through use
of an On-Board Oxygen Generating System (OBOGS); and an
escape system that provides additional protection to the
pilot. OBOGS takes the Power and Thermal Management System
(PTMS) air and enriches it by removing gases (mainly
nitrogen) by adsorption, thereby increasing the concentration
of oxygen in the product gas and supplying breathable air to
the pilot. The OMS provides a mission planning, mission
briefing, and a maintenance/intelligence/tactical debriefing
platform for the F-35.
2. The Electronic Warfare Reprogramming Lab is used by U.S.
Government engineers in the reprogramming and creation of
shareable Mission Data Files for foreign F-35 customers.
3. The AN/PYQ-10 Simple Key Loader is a portable, hand-held
device used for securely receiving, storing, and transferring
data between compatible cryptographic and communications
equipment.
4. The KGV-l35A is a high-speed, general purpose encryptor/
decryptor module used for wide-band data encryption.
5. The highest level of classification of defense articles,
components, and services included in this potential sale is
SECRET.
6. 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.
7. A determination has been made that Greece 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.
8. All defense articles and services listed in this
transmittal have been authorized for release and export to
Greece.
Certification Pursuant TO 620C(d) of the Foreign Assistance Act of
1961, as Amended
Pursuant to Section 620C(d) of the Foreign Assistance Act
of 1961, as amended (the Act), Executive Order 12163, State
Department Delegation of Authority No. 293-2, and State
Department Delegation of Authority 510; I hereby certify that
the furnishing to Greece of F-35 aircraft and related defense
articles and services is consistent with the principles
contained in Section 620C(b) of the Act.
This certification will be made part of the notification to
Congress under Section 36(b) of the Arms Export Control Act,
as amended, regarding the proposed sale of the above-named
articles and services and is based on the justification
accompanying such notification, of which such justification
constitutes a full explanation.
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