[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.
____________________