[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 194 (Monday, November 27, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5595-S5596]
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. 23-69, 
     concerning the Navy's proposed Letter(s) of Offer and 
     Acceptance to the Government of Japan for defense articles 
     and services estimated to cost $2.35 billion. 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. 23-69

     Notice of Proposed lssuance 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 * $1.26 billion.
       Other $1.09 billion.
       Total $2.35 billion.
       (iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or 
     Services under Consideration for Purchase:
       Major Defense Equipment (MDE):
       Two hundred (200) Tomahawk Block IV All Up Rounds (AURs) 
     (RGM-109E).
       Two hundred (200) Tomahawk Block V AURs (RGM-109E).
       Fourteen (14) Tactical Tomahawk Weapon Control Systems 
     (TTWCS).
       Non-MDE:
       Also included is support for the Tomahawk Weapon System 
     (TWS) (the All Up Round, the Tactical Tomahawk Weapon Control 
     Systems (TTWCS) and the Mission Distribution Software Suite 
     Centers (MDSSC)), as well as containers; feasibility studies; 
     software; hardware; training; unscheduled missile 
     maintenance; spares; in-service support; communication 
     equipment; operational flight test; publications; engineering 
     and technical expertise to maintain the TWS capability; non-
     recurring engineering; transportation; and other related 
     elements of logistics and program support.
       (iv) Military Department: Navy (JA-P-NFP, JA-P-NGO).
       (v) Prior Related Cases: if any: None.
       (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: November 17, 
     2023.
       *As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control 
     Act.


                          POLICY JUSTIFICATION

                     Japan--Tomahawk Weapon System

       The Government of Japan has requested to buy two hundred 
     (200) Tomahawk Block IV All Up Rounds (AURs) (RGM-109E); two 
     hundred (200) Tomahawk Block V AURs (RGM-109E); and fourteen 
     (14) Tactical Tomahawk Weapon Control Systems (TTWCS). Also 
     included is support for the Tomahawk Weapon System (TWS) (the 
     All Up Round, the Tactical Tomahawk Weapon Control Systems 
     (TTWCS) and the Mission Distribution Software Suite Centers 
     (MDSSC)), as well as containers; feasibility studies; 
     software; hardware; training; unscheduled missile 
     maintenance; spares; in-service support; communication 
     equipment; operational flight test; publications; engineering 
     and technical expertise to maintain the TWS capability; non-
     recurring engineering; transportation; and other related 
     elements of logistics and program support. The estimated 
     total cost is $2.35 billion.
       This proposed sale will support the foreign policy goals 
     and national security objectives

[[Page S5596]]

     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 a long range, 
     conventional surface-to-surface missile with significant 
     standoff range that can neutralize growing threats. Japan 
     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, 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. 23-69

     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 Tomahawk Block IV/V All Up Round (AUR) consists of 
     the RGM-109E Tomahawk cruise missile assembled in a canister 
     for surface launch. Tomahawk Block IV/V capabilities include: 
     increased system flexibility; improved system response times; 
     improved lethality against an increased target set; improved 
     accuracy; improved Anti-Jam GPS Receiver (AGR) with Selective 
     Availability Anti-Spoofing Module (SAASM) and or M-Code 
     capability; enhanced availability due to a 15-year 
     maintenance interval; and two-way communications between 
     missile and Strike/Missile Controllers via Satellite 
     Communications (SATCOM).
       2. The Tactical Tomahawk Weapon Control System (ITWCS) 
     consists of command and control, targeting, mission planning 
     and distribution of the Tomahawk cruise missile.
       3. The highest level of classification of defense articles, 
     components, and services included in this potential sale is 
     SECRET.
       4. 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.
       5. 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.
       6. All defense articles and services listed in this 
     transmittal have been authorized for release and export to 
     Japan.

                          ____________________