[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 37 (Monday, February 27, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Pages S500-S501]
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

[[Page S501]]

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,

                                                   Washington, DC.
     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)(5)(C) of the Arms Export Control Act (AECA), 
     as amended, we are forwarding Transmittal No. 23-0E. This 
     notification relates to enhancements or upgrades from the 
     level of sensitivity of technology or capability described in 
     the Section 36(b)(1) AECA certification 17-77 of February 5, 
     2018.
           Sincerely,
                                                       Mike Miller
                                  (For James A. Hursch, Director).
       Enclosure.


                         Transmittal No. 23-0E

     Report of Enhancement or Upgrade of Sensitivity of Technology 
         or Capability (Sec. 36(b)(5)(C), AECA)
       (i) Purchaser: Government of Finland.
       (ii) Sec. 36(b)(1), AECA Transmittal No.: 17-77; Date: 
     February 5, 2018; Military Department: Navy.
       (iii) Description: On February 5, 2018, Congress was 
     notified by Congressional certification transmittal number 
     17-77 of the possible sale, under Section 36(b)(1) of the 
     Arms Export Control Act, of sixty-eight (68) Evolved 
     SEASPARROW Missiles (ESSM) and one (1) ESSM inert operational 
     missile. Also included were seventeen (17) MK25 quad pack 
     canisters, eight (8) MK783 shipping containers, spare and 
     repair parts, support and test equipment, publications and 
     technical documentation, training, U.S. Government/Contractor 
     engineering, technical and logistics support services and 
     technical assistance, and other related elements of 
     logistical support. The estimated total cost was $112.7 
     million. Major Defense Equipment (MDE) constituted $92.6 
     million of this total.
       This transmittal notifies the inclusion of the following 
     MDE items: eighty-four (84) RIM-162J Evolved SEASPARROW 
     Missiles (ESSM), Block 2; to replace the previously notified 
     sixty-eight (68) ESSMs. Also included are MK25 quad pack 
     canisters and MK852 shipping containers. The addition of 
     these items will result in a net increase in MDE value of 
     $81.4 million, resulting in a revised MDE value of $174 
     million. The non-MDE estimated value will increase from $20.1 
     million to $28.9 million. The total estimated case value will 
     increase by $90.2 million to $202.9 million.
       (iv) Significance: The inclusion of this MDE represents an 
     increase in capability over the Block 1 ESSMs previously 
     notified. Finland intends to use the missiles on its new 
     Squadron 2020 class Corvette ships. The missiles will provide 
     enhanced capabilities in effective defense of critical sea 
     lanes and improve Finland's capability to meet current and 
     future enemy anti-ship weapon threats. Finland previously 
     requested ESSM Block 1s, but cancelled the procurement to 
     await the Block 2s.
       (v) Justification: This proposed sale will support the 
     foreign policy and national security of the United States by 
     improving the security of a trusted partner which is an 
     important force for political stability and economic progress 
     in Europe. It is vital to the U.S. national interest to 
     assist Finland in developing and maintaining a strong and 
     ready self-defense capability.
       (vi) Sensitivity of Technology: The RIM-162J ESSM Block 2 
     is an upgrade to the Block 1, which is a kinematic upgrade to 
     the RIM-7P SEASPARROW Missile that leverages U.S. guidance 
     technology. ESSM Block 1 is a medium-range, semi-active 
     homing missile that makes flight corrections via radar and 
     midcourse data uplinks. The guidance system is semi-active on 
     continuous wave or interrupted continuous wave illumination. 
     The missile provides reliable ship self-defense capability 
     against agile, high-speed, low-altitude anti-ship cruise 
     missiles (ASCMs) and low velocity air threats (LVATs) such as 
     helicopters and high-speed, maneuverable surface threats. The 
     ESSM Block 2 utilizes the same propulsion section and 
     increases the diameter of the guidance section to 10-inches. 
     The new guidance section utilizes a dual seeker head that 
     employs semi-active and active guidance.
       The highest level of classification of defense articles, 
     components, and services included in this potential sale is 
     SECRET.
       (vii) Date Report Delivered to Congress: February 27, 2023.

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