[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.
____________________