[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 140 (Tuesday, September 10, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5912-S5913]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        ARMS SALES NOTIFICATIONS

  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 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)(1) of the Arms Export Control Act, as 
     amended, we are forwarding herewith Transmittal No. 24-66, 
     concerning the Army's proposed Letter(s) of Offer and 
     Acceptance to the Government of Australia for defense 
     articles and services estimated to cost $100 million. We will 
     issue a news release to notify the public of this proposed 
     sale upon delivery of this letter to your office.
           Sincerely,
                                                Michael F. Miller,
                                                  Acting Director.
       Enclosures.


                         Transmittal No. 24-66

     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 * $95 million.
       Other $5 million.
       Total $100 million.
       (iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or 
     Services under Consideration for Purchase:
       Major Defense Equipment (MDE):
       Three hundred fifty (350) Javelin FGM-148F missiles 
     (includes four (4) fly-to-buy missiles).
       Non-Major Defense Equipment: The following non-MDE items 
     will also be included: U.S. Government technical assistance; 
     technical data; repair and return services; and other related 
     elements of logistics and program support.
       (iv) Military Department: Army AT-B-UOA.
       (v) Prior Related Cases. if any: AT-B-UJV; AT-B-ULI; AT-B-
     UMF; AT-B-UMX; AT-B-ZYH; AT-B-ZYQ; AT-B-ZYS; AT-B-ZXZ; AT-B-
     ZZA.
       (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: August 19, 2024.
       * As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control 
     Act.


                          POLICY JUSTIFICATION

                  Australia--FGM-148F Javelin Missiles

       The Government of Australia has requested to buy three 
     hundred fifty (350) Javelin FGM-148F missiles (includes four 
     (4) fly-to-buy missiles). Also included is U.S. Government 
     technical assistance; technical data; repair and return 
     services; and other related elements of logistics and program 
     support. The estimated cost is $100 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 the Australian Army's 
     capability to meet current and future threats by maintaining 
     and increasing its anti-armor capability. 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 contractors will be the Javelin Joint Venture 
     between RTX Corporation, located in Tucson, AZ, and Lockheed 
     Martin, located in 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 U.S. Government or contractor 
     representatives to Australia.

[[Page S5913]]

       There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness 
     as a result of this proposed sale.


                         Transmittal No. 24-66

     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 Javelin Weapon System is a medium-range, man 
     portable, shoulder-launched, fire and forget, anti-tank 
     system for infantry, scouts, and combat engineers. It may 
     also be mounted on a variety of platforms including vehicles, 
     aircraft, and watercraft. The system weighs 49.5 pounds and 
     has a maximum range in excess of 2,500 meters. The system is 
     highly lethal against tanks and other systems with 
     conventional and reactive armors. The system possesses a 
     secondary capability against bunkers.
       2. The Javelin's key technical feature is the use of fire-
     and-forget technology which allows the gunner to fire and 
     immediately relocate or take cover. Additional special 
     features are the top-attack and direct fire modes, an 
     advanced tandem warhead and imaging infrared seeker, target 
     lock-on before launch, and soft launch from enclosures or 
     covered fighting positions. The Javelin missile also has a 
     minimum smoke motor thus decreasing its detection on the 
     battlefield.
       3. The Javelin Weapon System is comprised of two major 
     tactical components, which are a reusable Light Weight 
     Command Launch Unit (LWCLU) and a round contained in a 
     disposable launch tube assembly. The LWCLU incorporates an 
     integrated day-night sight that provides a target engagement 
     capability in adverse weather and countermeasure 
     environments. The LWCLU may also be used in a stand-alone 
     mode for battlefield surveillance and target detection. The 
     LWCLU's thermal sight is a 3rd generation Forward Looking 
     Infrared (FLIR) sensor. To facilitate initial loading and 
     subsequent updating of software, all on-board missile 
     software is uploaded via the LWCLU after mating and prior to 
     launch.
       4. The missile is autonomously guided to the target using 
     an imaging infrared seeker and adaptive correlation tracking 
     algorithms. This allows the gunner to take cover or reload 
     and engage another target after firing a missile. The missile 
     has an advanced tandem warhead and can be used in either the 
     top-attack or direct fire modes (for target undercover). An 
     onboard flight computer guides the missile to the selected 
     target.
       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 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.
       8. All defense articles and services listed in this 
     transmittal have been authorized for release and export to 
     the Government of Australia.

                          ____________________