[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 169 (Tuesday, September 29, 2020)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5936-S5937]
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. 20-63
concerning the Navy's proposed Letter(s) of Offer and
Acceptance to the Government of Japan for defense articles
and services estimated to cost $55.311 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,
(For Heidi H. Grant, Director).
Enclosures.
Transmittal No. 20-63
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 Japan.
(ii) Total Estimated Value:
Major Defense Equipment* $50.311 million.
Other $ 5.000 million.
Total $55.311 million.
(iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or
Services under Consideration for Purchase:
Major Defense Equipment (MDE): Up to fifty-one (51) Rolling
Airframe Missiles (RAM) Block 2 Tactical Missiles, RIM-116C.
Non-MDE: Also included are RAM Guided Missile Round Pack
Tri-Pack shipping and storage containers, operator manuals
and technical documentation, U.S. Government and contractor
engineering, technical and logistics support services, and
other related elements of logistical and program support.
(iv) Military Department: Navy (JA-P-AUF).
(v) Prior Related Cases, if any: JA-P-ATK.
(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: September 28,
2020.
* As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control
Act.
POLICY JUSTIFICATION
Japan--RAM Block 7 Tactical Missiles
The Government of Japan has requested to buy up to fifty-
one (51) Rolling Airframe
[[Page S5937]]
Missiles (RAM) Block 2 Tactical Missiles, RIM-116C. Also
included are RAM Guided Missile Round Pack Tri-Pack shipping
and storage containers, operator manuals and technical
documentation, U.S. Government and contractor engineering,
technical and logistics support services, and other related
elements of logistical and program support. The estimated
total cost is $55.311 million.
This proposed sale will support the foreign policy goals
and national security objectives of the United States by
improving the security of a major ally that is a force for
political stability and economic progress in the Asia-Pacific
region. It is vital to U.S. national interest to assist Japan
in developing and maintaining a strong and effective self-
defense capability.
These RAM Block 2 Tactical missiles will provide
significantly enhanced area defense capabilities over
critical East Asian and Western Pacific air and sea-lines of
communication. Japan will have no difficulty absorbing these
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 Raytheon Missiles and Defense
Company, Tucson, AZ. There are no known offset agreements
proposed in connection with this potential sale.
Implementation of this sale will not require the assignment
of U.S. Government or contractor representatives in Japan.
There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness
as a result of this proposed sale.
Transmittal No. 20-63
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 RIM-116C Rolling Airframe Missile (RAM) is an
autonomous (i.e., ``fire and forget'') lightweight,
supersonic, surface-to-air tactical missile for ship self-
defense against current and evolving anti-ship cruise missile
threats. Advanced technology in the RIM-116C includes dual-
mode RF/IR (radio frequency/infrared) guidance with IR all-
the-way capability for non-emitting threats.
2. The Rolling Airframe Missile (RAM) is a product of a
cooperative program with Germany and has been executed, since
1976, under a series of governing Memoranda of Understanding/
Memoranda of Agreements (MOU/MOAs) for the development,
production, and in-service support between the United States
and Germany.
3. The highest level of classification of information
included in this potential sale is CONFIDENTIAL.
4. 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.
5. A determination has been made that Japan can provide
substantially the same degree of protection for the sensitive
technology being released as the U.S. Government. This sale
is necessary in furthering U.S. foreign policy and national
security objectives outlined in the Policy Justification.
6. All defense articles and services listed in this
transmittal have been authorized for release and export to
Japan.
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