CASR

Canadian
American
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Canadian Forces Procurement – US Export Licence Notice – F/A-18 Upgrade Canadian Involvement in Australian F/A-18 Hornet Upgrade (HUG)   —   United States  Arms Export Licence  Certification The Australian Defence Force's  AIR 5376  Project is a F/A-18 Hornet upgrade (HUG) program akin to the Canadian Forces'  CF-18 Incremental  Modern- ization Program. The RAAF will upgrade 71 F/A-18 Hornet (55 F/A-18A single-seaters and 16 F/A-18B two-seaters). As with the CF-18s, key systems are: APG-73 radar and IFF (Identification Friend or Foe) but Canadian industry is involved in other aspects of the Australian HUG (as well as the CF CF-18 IMP) which require US permission. Examples of Canadian subsidiary companies performing work for Hornet upgrades are Calgary-based Raytheon Canada's Services and Support Division for its repair tracking system (Material Asset Management System) and L-3 Canada (Markham, ON) whose Mirabel-based L-3 MAS division performs structural work (like design and prototyping for the RAAF  F/A-18 Centre Barrel Replacement Program), while Toronto-based L-3 Electronic Systems produces 'flat-screen' cockpit instruments. All such work  must receive approval  from the United States Congress  to receive an export licence certificate.  The  US  Department of  Defense's  Defense Security Cooperation Agency notifies Congress of potential export licences. The text of its F/A-18 Upgrade notice (as published on the DSCA website) is reproduced below: ______________________________________________   Defense Security Cooperation Agency   Certification Transmittal   On the web: http://www.dsca.mil   Media/Public Contact: (703) 601-3670   Date: 21 October 2005 ______________________________________________ Transmittal No. DDTC 041-05 CANADA  and  AUSTRALIA   –   F/A-18 Hornet Upgrades United States Department of State Washington, D.C. 20520 Oct 21 2005 Dear Mr. Speaker: Pursuant to Section 36(c) of  the Arms Export Control Act,  I am transmitting here- with, certification of a proposed licence for the export of major defense equipment and defense articles in the amount of [US] $100,000,000 or more. The transaction contained in the attached certification involves the transfer to the Commonwealth of Australia and the Government of Canada of additional technical data, defense services, and  defense articles necessary to support the Royal Aust- ralian Air Forces [sic] F/A-18 Aircraft Mid-Life Hornet Upgrade Program. The  United States  Government  is prepared  to licence the export of  these  items having  taken  into account  political,  military, economic,  human rights  and  arms control considerations. More detailed information is cont...ained  in the formal certification which, though unclassified, contains business information submitted  to the Department of  State by the applicant, publication of which could cause competitive harm to the United States firm concerned. Sincerely, [signed] Matthew A. Reynolds Acting Assistant Secretary Legislative Affairs Enclosure: Transmittal No. DDTC 041-05 The Honorable J. Dennis Hastert, Speaker of the House of Representatives.