[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 55 (Wednesday, March 24, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1761-S1762]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        ARMS SALES NOTIFICATION

  Mr. MENENDEZ. 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. Robert Menendez,
     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. 21-31 
     concerning the Army's proposed Letter(s) of Offer and 
     Acceptance to the Republic of Korea for defense articles and 
     services estimated to cost $36 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. 21-31

     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 * $33 million.
       Other $3 million.
       Total $36 million.
       (iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or 
     Services under Consideration for Purchase:

[[Page S1762]]

       Major Defense Equipment (MDE):
       Two hundred eighty-eight (288) AGM-114R Hellfire Missiles
       Non-MDE: Also included are AGM-114R spare parts; U.S. 
     Government and contractor engineering, technical, and 
     logistics support services; repair and return; storage; and 
     other related elements of logistical and program support.
       (iv) Military Department: Army (KS-B-ZIG).
       (v) Prior Related Cases, if any: KS-B-ZHW.
       (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: March 19, 2021.
       * As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control 
     Act.


                          POLICY JUSTIFICATION

                    Korea-AGM-114R Hellfire Missiles

       The Republic of Korea (ROK) has requested to buy two 
     hundred eighty-eight (288) AGM-114R Hellfire missiles. Also 
     included are AGM-114R spare parts; U.S. Government and 
     contractor engineering, technical, and logistics support 
     services; repair and return; storage; and other related 
     elements of logistical and program support. The estimated 
     total cost is $36 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 ROK 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 ROK in developing and 
     maintaining a strong and ready self-defense capability.
       The ROK intends to use these Hellfire missiles to 
     supplement its existing missile capability and current weapon 
     inventory for its AH-64E aircraft. The proposed sale will 
     improve the ROK's capability to meet current and future 
     threats and ensure interoperability with other AGM-114R 
     Hellfire missile users in the region. The Republic of Korea 
     will have no difficulty absorbing this equipment 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 Lockheed Martin 
     Corporation, Orlando, FL. The purchaser typically requests 
     offsets. Any offset agreements will be defined in 
     negotiations between the purchaser and the contractor.
       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. 21-31

     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 AGM-114R is used against heavy and light armored 
     targets, thin skinned vehicles, urban structures, bunkers, 
     caves and personnel. The missile is Inertial Measurement Unit 
     (IMU) based, with a variable delay fuse, improved safety and 
     reliability.
       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 or 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 U.S. 
     Government. This proposed 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.

                          ____________________