[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 176 (Wednesday, October 25, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5178-S5179]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        ARMS SALES NOTIFICATION

  Mr. CARDIN. 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. Benjamin L. Cardin,
     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. 23-68, 
     concerning the Navy's proposed Letter(s) of Offer and 
     Acceptance to the Government of Japan for defense articles 
     and services estimated to cost $74.6 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. 23-68

     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* $71.6 million.
       Other $3.0 million.
       Total $74.6 million.
       (iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or 
     Services under Consideration for Purchase:
       Major Defense Equipment (MDE):
       Up to sixty-three (63) Rolling Airframe Missiles (RAM) 
     Block 2B Tactical Missiles, RIM 116E.
       Non-MDE: Also included are RAM Guided Missile Round Pack 
     Tri-Pack shipping and storage containers; training equipment; 
     operator manuals and technical documentation; U.S. Government 
     and contractor engineering; technical and logistics support 
     services; support for establishment of an Intermediate Level 
     Maintenance Facility (ILMF); and other related elements of 
     logistics and program support.
       (iv) Military Department: Navy (JA-P-AUU).
       (v) Prior Related Cases, if any: JA-P-AUF, JA-P-AUN.
       (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: October 24, 2023.
       *As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control 
     Act.

[[Page S5179]]

  



                          POLICY JUSTIFICATION

   Japan--Rolling Airframe Missiles (RAM) Block 2B Tactical Missiles

       The Government of Japan has requested to buy up to sixty-
     three (63) Rolling Airframe Missiles (RAM) Block 2B Tactical 
     Missiles, RIM-116E. Also included are RAM Guided Missile 
     Round Pack Tri-Pack shipping and storage containers; training 
     equipment; operator manuals and technical documentation; U.S. 
     Government and contractor engineering; technical and logistic 
     support services; support for establishment of an 
     Intermediate Level Maintenance-Facility (ILMF); and other 
     related elements of logistics and program support. The 
     estimated total cost is $74.6 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 significantly 
     enhanced self-defense for surface units defending/transiting/
     patrolling critical air and sea lines of communication.
       The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not 
     alter the basic military balance in the region.
       The principal contractor will be Raytheon Missiles and 
     Defense Company, Tucson, AZ. 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. 23-68

     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 RIM-116E Rolling Airframe Missile (RAM) is an 
     autonomous, lightweight, supersonic, surface-to-air tactical 
     missile for ship self-defense against current and evolving 
     anti-ship cruise missile threats. Advanced technology in the 
     RIM-116E includes dual-mode (radio frequency/infrared) (RF/
     IR) guidance with IR all-the-way capability for non-emitting 
     threats.
       2. The highest level of classification of defense articles, 
     components, and services included in this potential sale is 
     CONFIDENTIAL.
       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 
     the Government of Japan.

                          ____________________