[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 142 (Tuesday, September 5, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Page S3886]
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,
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)(1) of the Arms Export Control Act, as
amended, we are forwarding herewith Transmittal No. 23-60,
concerning the Air Force's proposed Letter(s) of Offer and
Acceptance to the Government of Japan for defense articles
and services estimated to cost $104 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. 23-60
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 Japan.
(ii) Total Estimated Value:
Major Defense Equipment * $93.5 million.
Other $10.5 million.
Total $104.0 million.
(iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or
Services under Consideration for Purchase:
Major Defense Equipment (MDE):
Fifty (50) AGM-158B/B-2 Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff
Missiles with Extended Range (JASSM-ER).
Non-MDE: Also included are JASSM Anti-jam Global
Positioning System Receivers (JAGR), training missiles, and
missile containers; munitions support and support equipment;
spare parts, consumables, accessories, and repair/return
support; integration and test support and equipment;
personnel training and equipment; classified and unclassified
software delivery and support; classified and unclassified
publications and technical documentation; transportation
support; U.S. Government and contractor engineering,
technical, and logistics support services; studies and
surveys; and other related elements of logistics and program
support.
(iv) Military Department: Air Force (JA-D-YBH).
(v) Prior Related Cases, if any: JA-D-QES.
(vi) Sales Commission, Fee, etc., Paid, Offered, or Agreed
to be Paid: None known at this time.
(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: August 28, 2023.
* As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control
Act.
POLICY JUSTIFICATION
Japan--Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missiles with Extended Range
(JASSM-ER)
The Government of Japan has requested to buy fifty (50)
AGM-158B/B-2 Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missiles with
Extended Range (JASSM-ER). Also included are JASSM Anti-jam
Global Positioning System Receivers (JAGR), training
missiles, and missile containers; munitions support and
support equipment; spare parts, consumables, accessories, and
repair/return support; integration and test support and
equipment; personnel training and equipment; classified and
unclassified software delivery and support; classified and
unclassified publications and technical documentation;
transportation support; U.S. Government and contractor
engineering, technical, and logistics support services;
studies and surveys; and other related elements of logistics
and program support. The estimated total cost is $104
million.
This proposed sale will support the foreign policy goals
and national security objectives of the United States by
improving the security of a major ally that is a force for
political stability and economic progress in the Indo-Pacific
region.
The proposed sale will improve Japan's capability to meet
current and future threats by providing stand-off capability
via advanced, long-range strike systems for employment on
Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) fighter aircraft
including but not limited to the F-15J. Japan will have no
difficulty absorbing these articles and services 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, Orlando,
FL. There are no known offset agreements proposed in
connection with this potential sale.
Implementation of this proposed sale will not require the
assignment of any additional U.S. Government or contractor
representatives to Japan.
There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness
as a result of this proposed sale.
Transmittal No. 23-60
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-158B/B-2 Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile
with Extended Range (JASSM-ER) All Up Round (AUR) is a low-
observable, highly survivable, subsonic cruise missile
designed to penetrate next-generation air defense systems
enroute to target. The JASSM-ER is designed to kill hard,
medium-hardened, soft, and area-type targets. A turbo-fan
engine and reconfigured fuel tanks provide added capacity.
The extended range over the baseline was obtained by going
from a turbo jet to a turbo-fan engine and by reconfiguring
the fuel tanks for added capacity.
a. The JASSM Anti-Jam Global Positioning System (GPS)
Receiver (JAGR) is an imbedded GPS receiver that resides-
within the AUR of the JASSM-ER missile and is programed
during the AUR-build process to be country-specific. It
provides GPS/Inertial Navigation System (INS)-protected GPS
null steering antenna systems that can minimize or eliminate
undesirable interference, jamming signals, or noise during
midcourse guidance.
b. The AGM-158B-2 system capabilities include all the
capabilities of the AGM-158B. The AGM-158B-2 configuration
will have different internal components to address multiple
obsolescence issues as well as subcomponent updates to
position for M-Code and other potential upgrades.
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 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 Japan 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
Japan.
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