[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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