[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 110 (Thursday, June 24, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4763-S4764]
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, June 24, 2021.
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. 21-36,
concerning the Navy's proposed Letter(s) of Offer and
Acceptance to the Government of the Philippines for defense
articles and services estimated to cost $120 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. 21-36
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 the Philippines.
(ii) Total Estimated Value:
Major Defense Equipment * $45 million.
Other $75 million.
Total $120 million.
Funding Source: National Funds.
(iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or
Services under Consideration for Purchase:
Major Defense Equipment (MDE):
Twelve (12) AGM-84L-1 Harpoon Block II Air Launched
Missiles.
Two (2) ATM-84L-1 Harpoon Block II Exercise Missiles.
Non-MDE: Also included are containers; spare and repair
parts; support and test equipment; publications and technical
documentation; personnel training and training equipment;
U.S. Government and contractor engineering, technical, and
logistical support services; and other related elements of
logistical and program support.
(iv) Military Department: Navy (PI-P-AAZ)
(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 Attached
Annex.
(viii) Date Report Delivered to Congress: June 24, 2021.
*As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control
Act.
POLICY JUSTIFICATION
Philippines--AGM-84L-1 Harpoon Air Launched Block II Missiles
The Government of the Philippines has requested to buy
twelve (12) AGM-84L-1 Harpoon Block II air launched missiles;
and two (2) ATM-84L-1 Harpoon Block II Exercise missiles.
Also included are containers; spare and repair parts; support
and test equipment; publications and technical documentation;
personnel training and training equipment; U.S. Government
and contractor engineering, technical, and logistical support
services; and other related elements of logistical and
program support. The estimated total cost is $120 million.
This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and
national security of the United States by helping to improve
the security of a strategic partner that continues to be an
important force for political stability, peace, and economic
progress in South East Asia.
The proposed sale will enhance the Philippines'
interoperability with the U.S. and other allied nations,
making it a more valuable partner in an increasingly
important area of the world. It will improve the Philippines'
capability to meet current and future threats by providing
flexible solutions to augment existing surface and air
defense. The Philippine Air Force is modernizing its fighter
aircraft to better support its own maritime security needs.
This capability will provide the Philippine Air Force the
ability to employ a highly reliable and effective system to
counter or deter maritime aggressions, coastal blockades, and
amphibious assaults. The Philippines 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 prime contractor will be The Boeing Company, St. Louis,
MO. There are no known offset agreements proposed in
connection with this potential sale.
Implementation of this proposed sale will require travel of
U.S. Government or contractor representatives to the
Philippines on a temporary basis for program technical
support and management oversight.
There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness
as a result of this proposed sale.
Transmittal No. 21-36
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 Harpoon missile is a non-nuclear tactical weapon
system currently in service in the U.S. Navy and in 29 other
foreign nations. It provides a day, night, and adverse
weather, standoff air-to-surface capability and is an
effective Anti-Surface Warfare missile. The AGM-84L
incorporates components, software, and technical design
information that are considered sensitive, to include:
The Radar Seeker.
The Radar Altimeter.
The GPS/INS System.
Operational Flight Program Software.
Missile operational characteristics and performance data.
These elements are essential to the ability of the Harpoon
missile to selectively engage hostile targets under a wide
range of operations, tactical and environmental conditions.
2. The highest level of classification of defense articles,
components, and services included in this potential sale is
CONFIDENTIAL.
[[Page S4764]]
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 Philippines 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.
5. All defense articles and services listed in this
transmittal have been authorized for release and export to
the Government of the Philippines.
____________________