[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 110 (Thursday, June 24, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Page S4766]
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. 21-23,
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 $42.4 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,
Aaron Harding,
(For Heidi H. Grant, Director).
Enclosures.
Transmittal No. 21-23
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 * $27.8 million.
Other $14.6 million.
Total $42.4 million
Funding Source: National Funds.
(iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or
Services under Consideration for Purchase:
Major Defense Equipment (MDE):
Twenty-four (24) AIM-9X Sidewinder Block II Tactical
Missiles.
Twenty-four (24) AIM 9X Block II Captive Air Training
Missiles (CATMs).
Six (6) Tactical Guidance Units.
Ten (10) Captive Air Training Missile (CATM) Guidance
Units.
Non-MDE: Also included are containers, support and test
equipment, spare and repair parts, personnel training and
training equipment, publications and technical data, software
delivery and support, U.S. Government and contractor
technical assistance and other related support; and other
related elements of logistical and program support.
(iv) Military Department: Navy (PI-P-AAY).
(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--AIM-9X Sidewinder Block II Tactical Missiles
The Government of the Philippines has requested to buy
twenty-four (24) AIM-9X Sidewinder Block II tactical
missiles; twenty-four (24) AIM-9X Block II Captive Air
Training Missiles (CATMs); six (6) Tactical Guidance Units;
and ten (10) Captive Air Training Missile (CATM) Guidance
Units. Also included are containers, support and test
equipment, spare and repair parts, personnel training and
training equipment, publications and technical data, software
delivery and support, U.S. Government and contractor
technical assistance and other related support; and other
related elements of logistical and program support. The
estimated total cost is $42.4 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 improve the Philippines' capability
to meet current and future threats by enabling the
Philippines to deploy fighter aircraft with a short range
air-to-air missile defense capability. The Philippines Air
Force is modernizing its fighter aircraft to better support
its own air defense and maritime security needs. 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 Raytheon Missile Systems
Company, Tucson, AZ. 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. 21-23
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 represents a
substantial increase in missile acquisition and kinematics
performance over the AIM-9M and replaces the AIM-9X Block I
Missile configuration. The missile includes 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 (P3I) program in order to
improve its countercountermeasure 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
CONFIDENTIAL.
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.
____________________