[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 87 (Thursday, May 23, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Page S3097]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
ARMS SALES NOTIFICATION
Mr. RISCH. 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,
Arlington, VA.
Hon. James E. Risch,
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. 19-26
concerning the Navy's proposed Letter(s) of Offer and
Acceptance to the Republic of Korea for defense articles and
services estimated to cost $313.9 million. After this letter
is delivered to your office, we plan to issue a news release
to notify the public of this proposed sale.
Sincerely,
Charles W. Hooper,
Lieutenant General, USA, Director.
Enclosures.
Transmittal No. 19-26
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: Republic of Korea.
(ii) Total Estimated Value:
Major Defense Equipment * $292.4 million.
Other $21.5 million.
Total $313.9 million.
(iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or
Services under Consideration for Purchase:
Major Defense Equipment (MDE):
Up to ninety-four (94) Rounds of SM-2 Block IIIB Standard
Missiles.
Twelve (12) MK 97 MOD 0 Guidance Sections for SM-2 Block
IIIB.
Non-MDE: Also included is technical assistance; training
and training equipment; publication and technical data; and
related logistics support, and other related elements of
logistics and program support.
(iv) Military Department: Navy (KS-P-AMO and KS-P-AMR)
(v) Prior Related Cases, if any: KS-P-AHU, KS-P-AJA, KS-P-
AJX, KS-P-ALM
(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 Annex
Attached.
(viii) Date Report Delivered to Congress: May 16, 2019.
*As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control
Act.
POLICY JUSTIFICATION
Korea--SM-2 Block IIIB
The Republic of Korea (ROK) has requested to buy up to
ninety-four (94) rounds of SM-2 Block IIIB Standard Missiles
and twelve (12) MK 97 MOD 0 Guidance Sections for SM-2 Block
IIIB. Also included is technical assistance: training and
training equipment; publication and technical data; and
related logistics support, and other related elements of
logistics and program support. The total estimated program
cost is $313.9 million.
This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and
national security objectives of the United States by meeting
the legitimate security and defense needs of one of the
closest allies in the INDOPACOM Theater. The Republic of
Korea is one of the major political and economic powers in
East Asia and the Western Pacific and a key partner of the
United States in ensuring peace and stability in that region.
The ROK Navy intends to use the SM-2 Block IIIB to
supplement it existing inventory. The proposed sale will
provide a defensive capability while enhancing
interoperability with U.S. and other allied forces. The
Republic of Korea will have no difficulty absorbing these
additional missiles into its armed forces.
The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not
alter the basic military balance in the region.
The prime contractor will be the Raytheon Missile Systems
Company, Tucson, Arizona. There are no known offset
agreements proposed in connection with this potential sale.
Any offset agreement will be defined in negotiations between
the Purchaser and the prime contractor.
Implementation of the proposed sale will not require the
assignment of any additional U.S. Government or contractor
representatives to the ROK. However, U.S. Government or
contractor personnel in-country visits will be required on a
temporary basis in conjunction with program technical
oversight and support requirements.
There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness
as a result of this proposed sale.
transmittal No. 19-26
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 SM-2 Block IIIB Standard Missile consists of a
Guidance Unit, Dual Thrust Rocket Motor, Steering Control
Unit, and Telemeter with omni-directional antenna. The
proposed sale will result in the transfer of sensitive
technology and information as well as classified and
unclassified defense equipment and technical data. The
hardware and installed software is classified SECRET.
Training documentation is classified CONFIDENTIAL. Shipboard
operational/tactical employment is generally CONFIDENTIAL,
but includes some SECRET data. The all-up round Standard
Missiles are classified CONFIDENTIAL. Certain operating
frequencies and performance characteristics are classified
SECRET.
2. 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.
3. A determination has been made that the recipient
government can provide substantially the same degree of
protection for the technology being released as the U.S.
Government. This sale supports the U.S. foreign policy and
national security objectives as outlined in the Policy
Justification.
4. All defense articles and services listed in this
transmittal have been authorized for release and export to
the Republic of Korea.
____________________