[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 164 (Thursday, October 17, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5889-S5890]
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. 19-51 
     concerning the Air Force's proposed Letter(s) of Offer and 
     Acceptance to the Republic of Korea for defense articles and 
     services estimated to cost $253 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. 19-51

     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 * $250 million.
       Other $3 million.
       Total $253 million.
       (iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or 
     Services under Consideration for Purchase:
       Major Defense Equipment (MDE): One hundred twenty (120) 
     AIM-120C-7/C-8 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile 
     (AMRAAM).
       Non-MDE: Also included are containers; weapon support and 
     support equipment; spare and repair parts; U.S. Government 
     and contractor engineering, technical, and logistics support 
     services; and other related elements of logistical and 
     program support.
       (iv) Military Department: Air Force (KS-D-YDB).
       (v) Prior Related Cases, if any: None.
       (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: October 17, 2019.
       *As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control 
     Act.


                          POLICY JUSTIFICATION

 Republic of Korea--AIM-120C Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile 
                                (AMRAAM)

       The Republic of Korea (ROK) has requested to buy one 
     hundred twenty (120) AIM-120C-7/C-8 Advanced Medium Range 
     Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM). Also included are containers; 
     weapon support and support equipment; spare and repair parts; 
     U.S. Government and contractor engineering, technical, and 
     logistics support services; and other related elements of 
     logistical and program support. The total estimated program 
     cost is $253 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. 
     It is vital to U.S. national interests to assist the Republic 
     of Korea in developing and maintaining a strong and ready 
     self-defense capability.
       This proposed sale will improve the ROK capability to meet 
     current and future threats by increasing its stocks of medium 
     range missiles for its F-15K, KF-16, and F-35 fleets for its 
     national defense. The potential sale will further strengthen 
     the interoperability between the United States and the ROK. 
     The ROK 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 principal contractor will be Raytheon of Waltham, MA. 
     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.
       There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness 
     as a result of this proposed sale.


                         Transmittal No. 19-51

     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:

[[Page S5890]]

  

       1. The proposed sale will involve the release of sensitive 
     technology to the Republic of Korea related to the AIM-120C-
     7/C-8 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM). The 
     AIM-120C-7/C-8 AMRAAM is a supersonic, air launched, aerial 
     intercept, guided missile featuring digital technology and 
     micro-miniature solid-state electronics. Purchase will 
     include AMRAAM Guidance Sections. AMRAAM capabilities include 
     look-down/shoot- down, multiple launches against multiple 
     targets, resistance to electronic countermeasures, and 
     interception of high- and low-flying maneuvering targets. The 
     AIM-120C-8 is a form, fit, function refresh of the AIM-120C-7 
     and is the next generation to be produced. The capabilities 
     of the AIM-120C-7 and C-8 are identical. The AMRAAM All Up 
     Round is classified CONFIDENTIAL, major components and 
     subsystems range from UNCLASSIFIED to CONFIDENTIAL, and 
     technical data and other documentation are classified up to 
     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 Republic of Korea 
     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.
       4. All defense articles and services listed on this 
     transmittal have been authorized for release and export to 
     the Republic of Korea.

                          ____________________