[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 142 (Tuesday, September 5, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3889-S3890]
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. 23-25, 
     concerning the Air Force's proposed Letter(s) of Offer and 
     Acceptance to the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative 
     Office in the United States (TECRO) for defense articles and 
     services estimated to cost $500 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. 23-25

     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: Taipei Economic and Cultural 
     Representative Office in the United States (TECRO).
       (ii) Total Estimated Value:
       Major Defense Equipment * $0 million.
       Other $500 million.
       Total $500 million.
       (iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or 
     Services under Consideration for Purchase:

[[Page S3890]]

       Major Defense Equipment (MDE):
       None.
       Non-MDE: Included are Infrared Search and Track (IRST) 
     systems; integration and test support and equipment; aircraft 
     and munitions support and support equipment; software 
     delivery and support; spare parts, consumables and 
     accessories, and repair and return support; publications and 
     technical documentation; personnel training and training 
     equipment; studies and surveys; U.S. Government and 
     contractor engineering, technical, and logistics support 
     services; and other related elements of logistical and 
     program support.
       (iv) Military Department: Air Force (TW-D-QBF).
       (v) Prior Related Cases, if any: TW-D-SAD.
       (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 23, 2023.
       * As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control 
     Act.


                          POLICY JUSTIFICATION

   Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United 
                       States--F-16 IRST Systems

       The Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in 
     the United States (TECRO) has requested to buy F-16 Infrared 
     Search and Track (IRST) systems; integration and test support 
     and equipment; aircraft and munitions support and support 
     equipment; software delivery and support; spare parts, 
     consumables and accessories, and repair and return support; 
     publications and technical documentation; personnel training 
     and training equipment; studies and surveys; U.S. Government 
     and contractor engineering, technical, and logistics support 
     services; and other related elements of logistical and 
     program support. There is no Major Defense Equipment (MDE). 
     The estimated total cost is $500 million.
       This proposed sale is consistent with U.S. law and policy 
     as expressed in Public Law 96-8.
       This proposed sale serves U.S. national, economic, and 
     security interests by supporting the recipient's continuing 
     efforts to modernize its armed forces and to maintain a 
     credible defensive capability. The proposed sale will help 
     improve the security of the recipient and assist in 
     maintaining political stability, military balance, and 
     economic progress in the region.
       The proposed sale will improve the recipient's capability 
     to meet current and future threats by contributing to the 
     recipient's abilities to defend its airspace, provide 
     regional security, and increase interoperability with the 
     United States through its F-16 program. The recipient 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 principal contractors will be Lockheed Martin 
     Corporation, St. Louis, MO. There are no known offset 
     agreements proposed in connection with this potential sale. 
     The purchaser typically requests offsets. Any offset 
     agreement would be defined in negotiations between the 
     purchaser and the contractor(s).
       Implementation of this proposed sale will not require the 
     assignment of any additional U.S. Government or contractor 
     representatives.
       There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness 
     as a result of this proposed sale.


                         Transmittal No. 23-25

     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 Infrared Search and Track System (IRST) is a high 
     resolution, passive, infrared sensor system that searches 
     for, detects, and tracks threats with infrared signatures at 
     long ranges within its field of regard. It functions without 
     emitting any radiation of its own and enables aircrews to 
     detect adversaries before those adversaries see or sense 
     them.
       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 the recipient 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 recipient.

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