[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.
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