[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 39 (Wednesday, March 1, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Pages S564-S565]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
ARMS SALES NOTIFICATION
Mr. MENENDEZ. Madam 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,
Washington, DC.
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. 23-17,
concerning the Army's proposed Letter(s) of Offer and
Acceptance to the Government of the United Kingdom for
defense articles and services estimated to cost $125.13
million. We will issue a news release to notify the public of
this proposed sale upon delivery of this letter to your
office.
Sincerely,
James A. Hursch,
Director.
Enclosures.
Transmittal No. 23-17
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 United
Kingdom.
(ii) Total Estimated Value:
Major Defense Equipment * $125.00 million.
Other $.13 million.
Total $125.13 million.
(iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or
Services under Consideration for Purchase:
Major Defense Equipment (MDE): Up to six hundred (600)
Javelin FGM-148F Missiles (includes twelve (12) Fly-to-Buy
Missiles).
Non-MDE: Also included is U.S. Government technical
assistance and other related elements of logistics and
program support.
(iv) Military Department: Army (UK-B-WVJ).
(v) Prior Related Cases, if any: UK-B-WVA.
(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: February 28,
2023.
* As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control
Act.
POLICY JUSTIFICATION
United Kingdom--Javelin Missiles
The Government of the United Kingdom has requested to buy
up to six hundred (600) Javelin FGM-148F missiles (includes
twelve (12) fly-to-buy missiles). Also included is U.S.
Government technical assistance and other related elements of
logistics and program support. The total estimated cost is
$125.13 million.
This proposed sale will support the foreign policy goals
and national security objectives of the United States by
improving the security of a NATO Ally that is a force for
political stability and economic progress in Europe.
The proposed sale will improve the United Kingdom's
capability to meet current and future threats. The United
Kingdom will use the enhanced capability to build its long-
term defense capacity to meet its national defense
requirements. The United Kingdom 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 contractors will be Raytheon/Lockheed Martin
Javelin Joint Venture, Orlando, FL and Tucson, AZ. There are
no known offset agreements in connection with this potential
sale.
Implementation of this proposed sale will not require the
assignment of U.S. Government or contractor representatives
to the United Kingdom.
There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness
as a result of this proposed sale.
[[Page S565]]
Transmittal No. 23-17
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 Javelin Weapon System is a medium-range, man
portable, shoulder-launched, fire and forget, anti-tank
system for infantry, scouts, and combat engineers. It may
also be mounted on a variety of platforms including vehicles,
aircraft and watercraft. The system weighs 49.5 pounds and
has a maximum range in excess of 2,500 meters. They system is
highly lethal against tanks and other systems with
conventional and reactive armors. The system possesses a
secondary capability against bunkers.
2. Javelin's key technical feature is the use of fire-and-
forget technology which allows the gunner to fire and
immediately relocate or take cover. Additional special
features are the top attack and/or direct fire modes, an
advanced tandem warhead and imaging infrared seeker, target
lock-on before launch, and soft launch from enclosures or
covered fighting positions. The Javelin missile also has a
minimum smoke motor thus decreasing its detection on the
battlefield.
3. The Javelin Weapon System is comprised of two major
tactical components, which are a reusable Light Weight
Command Launch Unit (LWCLU) and a round contained in a
disposable launch tube assembly. The LWCLU has been
identified as Major Defense Equipment (MDE). The LWCLU
incorporates an integrated day-night sight that provides a
target engagement capability in adverse weather and
countermeasure environments. The LWCLU may also be used in a
stand-alone mode for battlefield surveillance and target
detection. The LWCLU's thermal sight is a 3rd generation
Forward Looking Infrared (FLIR) sensor. To facilitate initial
loading and subsequent updating of software, all on-board
missile software is uploaded via the LWCLU after mating and
prior to launch.
4. The missile is autonomously guided to the target using
an imaging infrared seeker and adaptive correlation tracking
algorithms. This allows the gunner to take cover or reload
and engage another target after firing a missile. The missile
has an advanced tandem warhead and can be used in either the
top attack or direct fire modes (for target undercover). An
onboard flight computer guides the missile to the selected
target.
5. The highest level of classification of defense articles,
components, and services included in this potential sale is
SECRET.
6. If a technologically advanced adversary obtains
knowledge of the specific hardware and software elements, the
information could be used to develop countermeasures or
equivalent systems that might reduce weapon system
effectiveness or be used in the development of a system with
similar or advanced capabilities.
7. A determination has been made that the United Kingdom
can provide substantially the same degree of protection for
the sensitive technology being released as the U.S.
Government. This proposed sale is necessary to further the
U.S. foreign policy and national security objectives outlined
in the Policy Justification.
8. All defense articles and services listed on this
transmittal are authorized for release and export to the
Government of the United Kingdom.
____________________