[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 190 (Wednesday, November 15, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5534-S5535]
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,
     Committee on Foreign Relations, U.S. Senate,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. Chairman: Pursuant to the reporting requirements 
     of Section 36(b)(l) of the Arms Export Control Act, as 
     amended, we are forwarding herewith Transmittal No. 23-76, 
     concerning the Navy's proposed Letter(s) of Offer and 
     Acceptance to the Republic of Korea for defense articles and 
     services estimated to cost $52.1 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.

[[Page S5535]]

  

       Enclosures.


                         Transmittal No. 23-76

     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: Republic of Korea (ROK).
       (ii) Total Estimated Value:
       Major Defense Equipment * $40.1 million.
       Other $12.0 million.
       Total $52.1 million.
       (iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or 
     Services under Consideration for Purchase:
       Major Defense Equipment (MDE):
       Forty-two (42) AIM-9X Sidewinder Block II+ Tactical 
     Missiles.
       Ten (10) AIM-9X Sidewinder Captive Air Training Missiles 
     (CATM).
       Five (5) AIM-9X Block II+ Sidewinder Tactical Guidance 
     Units (GU).
       Three (3) AIM-9X Sidewinder CATM Guidance Units (GU).
       Non-MDE: Also included are missile containers; spare and 
     repair parts; support and test equipment; publications and 
     technical documentation; personnel training and training 
     equipment; U.S. Government and contractor representatives' 
     technical assistance, engineering, and logistics support 
     services; and other related elements of logistics and program 
     support.
       (iv) Military Department: Navy (KS-P-ANR).
       (v) Prior Related Cases, if any: KS-P-ALE.
       (vi) Sales Commission, Fee, etc., Paid, Offered, or Agreed 
     to be Paid: None known.
       (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: November 15, 
     2023.
       *As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control 
     Act.


                          POLICY JUSTIFICATION

     Republic of Korea (ROK)--AIM-9X Block II and Block II+ (Plus) 
                          Sidewinder Missiles

       The Government of the Republic of Korea has requested to 
     buy forty-two (42) AIM-9X Sidewinder Block II+ Tactical 
     Missiles; ten (10) AIM-9X Sidewinder Captive Air Training 
     Missiles (CATM); five (5) AIM-9X Block II+ Sidewinder 
     Tactical Guidance Units (GU); and three (3) AIM-9X Sidewinder 
     CATM Guidance Units (GU). Also included are missile 
     containers; spare and repair parts; support and test 
     equipment; publications and technical documentation; 
     personnel training and training equipment; U.S. Government 
     and contractor representatives' technical assistance and 
     engineering and logistics support services; and other related 
     elements of logistics and program support. The estimated 
     total program cost is $52.1 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 the Republic of Korea's 
     capability to meet current and future threats while further 
     enhancing interoperability with the United States and other 
     allies. Korea will have no difficulty absorbing these 
     articles 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 Raytheon Missiles and 
     Defense (RMD), Tucson, AZ. There are no known offset 
     agreements proposed in connection with this potential sale.
       Implementation of the proposed sale will require U.S. 
     Government and contractor personnel to visit the ROK on a 
     temporary basis in conjunction with program technical 
     oversight and support requirements, including program and 
     technical reviews, as well as to provide training and 
     maintenance support in country.
       There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness 
     as a result of this proposed sale.


                         Transmittal No. 23-76

     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 AIM-9X Block II and Block II+ (Plus) SIDEWINDER 
     Missile represents a substantial increase in missile 
     acquisition and kinematics performance over the AIM-9M and 
     replaces the AIM-9X Block I Missile configuration. The 
     missile includes a high off-boresight seeker, enhanced 
     countermeasure rejection capability, low drag/high angle of 
     attack airframe and the ability to integrate the Helmet 
     Mounted Cueing System. The most current AIM-9X Block II/II+ 
     Operational Flight Software developed for all international 
     partner countries, which is authorized for export by USG 
     export policy, provides fifth-generation Infra-Red Missile 
     capabilities such as Lock-On-After-Launch, Weapons Data Link, 
     Surface Attack, and Surface Launch. No software source code 
     or algorithms will be released.
       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 Republic of Korea 
     (ROK) 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 ROK.

                          ____________________