[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 171 (Thursday, October 1, 2020)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6022-S6023]
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

[[Page S6023]]

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. 20-60 
     concerning the Navy's proposed Letter(s) of Offer and 
     Acceptance to the Republic of Korea for defense articles and 
     services estimated to cost $158.1 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,
                                                   Heidi H. Grant,
                                                         Director.
       Enclosures.


                         Transmittal No. 20-60

     Notice of Proposed Issuance of Letter of Offer Pursuant to 
         Section 36(b)(l) of the Arms Export Control Act, as 
         amended
       (i) Prospective Purchaser: Republic of Korea.
       (ii) Total Estimated Value:
       Major Defense Equipment* $135.9 million.
       Other $22.2 million.
       Total $158.l million.
       (iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or 
     Services under Consideration for Purchase:
       Major Defense Equipment (MDE):
       One hundred fifteen (115) AIM-9X Block II Tactical 
     Sidewinder Missiles.
       Fifty (50) AIM-9X Block II Captive Air Training Missiles 
     (CATM).
       Twenty (20) AIM-9X Block II Tactical Missile Guidance 
     Units.
       Twenty (20) AIM-9X Block II CATM Guidance Units.
       Non-MDE:
       Also included are containers, weapon system support, 
     software, surface transportation, missile technical 
     assistance, and other technical assistance; and other related 
     elements of program support.
       (iv) Military Department: Navy (KS-P-AMV).
       (v) Prior Related Cases, if any: KS-P-ALE.
       (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: October l, 2020.
       *As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control 
     Act.


                          POLICY JUSTIFICATION

          Korea--AIM-9X Block II Tactical Sidewinder Missiles

       The Republic of Korea has requested to buy one hundred 
     fifteen (115) AIM-9X Block II Tactical Sidewinder missiles; 
     fifty (50) AIM-9X Block II Captive Air Training Missiles 
     (CATM): twenty (20) AIM-9X Block II Tactical Missile Guidance 
     Units; and twenty (20) AIM-9X Block II CATM Guidance Units. 
     Also included are containers, weapon system support, 
     software, surface transportation, missile technical 
     assistance, and other technical assistance: and other related 
     elements of program support. The estimated total cost is 
     $158.1 million.
       This proposed sale will support the foreign policy goals 
     and national security objectives of the United States by 
     helping to improve the security of a treaty ally that 
     continues to be an important force for political stability, 
     peace, and economic progress in North East Asia.
       The proposed sale will assist the Republic of Korea in 
     developing and maintaining a strong and ready self-defense 
     capability. The Republic of Korea 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 principal contractor will be Raytheon Corporation, 
     Tucson, AZ. 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 additional U.S. Government or contractor 
     representatives to the Republic of Korea.
       There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness 
     as a result of this proposed sale.


                         Transmittal No. 20-60

     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 AIM-9X Block II SIDEWINDER Missile is a short-range, 
     air-to-air missile. The AIM-9X Block II SIDEWINDER Missile 
     provides a high off-boresight seeker, enhanced countermeasure 
     rejection capability, low drag/high angle of attack airframe 
     and the ability to integrate the Helmet Mounted Cueing 
     System. The software algorithms are the most sensitive 
     portion of the AIM-9X missile. The software continues to be 
     modified via a pre-planned product improvement (P\3\I) 
     program in order to improve its counter-countermeasure 
     capabilities. No software source code or algorithms will be 
     released.
       2. The highest level of classification of defense articles, 
     components, and services included in this potential sale is 
     SECRET.
       3. 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.
       4. 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 US. 
     Government. This sale is necessary in furtherance of the U.S. 
     foreign policy and national security objectives outlined in 
     the Policy Justification.
       5. All defense articles and services listed in this 
     transmittal have been authorized for release and export to 
     the Republic of Korea.

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