[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 190 (Wednesday, November 15, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5535-S5536]
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)(1) of the Arms Export Control Act, as 
     amended, we are forwarding herewith Transmittal No. 23-78, 
     concerning the Navy's proposed Letter(s) of Offer and 
     Acceptance to the Republic of Korea for defense articles and 
     services estimated to cost $650 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. 23-78

     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 * $385 million.
       Other $265 million.
       Total $650 million.
       (iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or 
     Services under Consideration for Purchase:
       Major Defense Equipment (MDE):
       Up to thirty-eight (38) Standard Missile 6 (SM-6) Block I 
     Missiles
       Non-MDE: Also included are MK 21 Vertical Launch System 
     (VLS) canisters; obsolescence Engineering, Integration, and 
     Test (EI&T) materiel and support; handling equipment; spares; 
     training and training equipment and aids; technical 
     publications and data; U.S. Government and contractor 
     engineering and technical assistance, including related 
     studies and analysis support; product support; materiel and 
     support for demonstration and interoperability live fire 
     events; and other related elements of logistics and program 
     support.
       (iv) Military Department: Navy (KS-P-ANP).
       (v) Prior Related Cases, if any: KS-P-AMO; KS-P-AMR; KS-P-
     ALM.
       (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 14, 
     2023.
       *As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control 
     Act.


                          Policy Justification

    Republic of Korea (ROK)--Standard Missile 6 Block I (SM-6 Blk I)

       The Government of the Republic of Korea has requested to 
     buy up to thirty-eight (38) Standard Missile 6 (SM-6) Block I 
     missiles. Also included are MK 21 Vertical Launch System 
     (VLS) canisters; obsolescence Engineering, Integration, and 
     Test (EI&T) materiel and support; handling equipment; spares; 
     training and training equipment and aids; technical 
     publications and data; U.S. Government and contractor 
     engineering and technical assistance, including related 
     studies and analysis support; product support; materiel and 
     support for demonstration and interoperability live fire 
     events; and other related elements of logistics and program 
     support. The estimated total program cost is $650 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.

[[Page S5536]]

       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 Republic of 
     Korea 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. 23-78

     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 Standard Missile-6 (SM-6) is a Navy surface-to-air 
     missile that provides area and ship self-defense. The missile 
     is intended to project power and contribute to raid 
     annihilation by destroying manned fixed and rotary wing 
     aircraft, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV), Land Attack Cruise 
     Missiles, and Anti-Ship Cruise Missiles in flight. It was 
     designed to fulfill the need for a vertically launched, 
     extended range missile compatible with the AEGIS Weapon 
     System to be used against extended range threats at sea, near 
     land, and overland. The SM-6 combines the tested legacy of 
     Standard Missile 2 (SM-2) propulsion and ordnance with an 
     active radio frequency seeker allowing for over-the-horizon 
     engagements, enhanced capability at extended ranges, and 
     increased firepower.
       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.

                          ____________________