[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.
____________________