[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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