[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 209 (Tuesday, December 19, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6054-S6055]
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. 24-03,
concerning the Air Force's proposed Letter(s) of Offer and
Acceptance to the Government of Japan for defense articles
and services estimated to cost $224 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. 24-03
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: Government of Japan.
(ii) Total Estimated Value:
Major Defense Equipment $213 million.
Other $11 million.
Total $224 million.
(iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or
Services under Consideration for Purchase:
Major Defense Equipment (MDE):
One hundred twenty (120) AIM-120C-8 Advanced Medium Range
Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM).
Three (3) AIM-120C-8 Guidance Section.
Non-MDE: Also included are AIM-120 Captive Air Training
Missiles (CATM), missile containers, and control section
spares; Common Munitions Built-in-Test Reprogramming
Equipment (CMBRE); ADU-891 Adapter Group Test Sets; munitions
support and support equipment; spare and repair parts,
consumables, and accessories, and repair and return support;
contract logistics support (CLS); classified software
delivery and support; classified/unclassified publications
and technical documentation; studies and surveys; U.S.
Government and contractor engineering, technical and
logistical support services; and other related elements of
logistics and program support.
(iv) Military Department: Air Force (JA-D-YBI).
(v) Prior Related Cases, if any: JA-D-YAI, JA-D-YAK, JA-D-
YAO, JA-D-YCM, JA-D-YAU, JA-D-YAX, JA-D-YBD.
(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: December 15,
2023.
* As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control
Act.
policy justification
Japan--AIM-120C-8 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM)
The Government of Japan has requested to buy one hundred
twenty (120) AIM-120C-8 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air
Missiles (AMRAAM); and three (3) AIM-120C-8 guidance
sections. Also included are AIM-120 Captive Air Training
Missiles (CATM), missile containers, and control section
spares; Common Munitions Built-in-Test Reprogramming
Equipment (CMBRE); ADU-891 Adapter Group Test Sets; munitions
support and support equipment; spare and repair parts,
consumables, and accessories, and repair and return support;
contract logistics support (CLS); classified software
delivery and support; classified/unclassified publications
and technical documentation; studies and surveys; U.S.
Government and contractor engineering, technical and
logistical support services; and other related elements of
logistics and program support. The estimated total cost is
$224 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 Japan's capability to meet
current and future threats by defending its homeland and U.S.
personnel stationed there. The proposed sale is Japan's
CY2023 annual purchase of AMRAAMs. Japan will have no
difficulty absorbing these articles and services 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 RTX Corporation, 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. 24-03
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-120C-8 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile
(AMRAAM) is a supersonic, air-launched, aerial intercept,
guided missile featuring digital technology and micro-
miniature, solid-state electronics. AMRAAM capabilities
include look-down/shoot-down, multiple launches against
multiple targets, resistance to electronic countermeasures,
and interception of high- and low-flying and maneuvering
targets.
2. The Common Munitions Built-In-Test (BIT)/Reprogramming
Equipment (CMBRE) is support equipment used to interface with
weapon systems to initiate and report BIT results, and
upload/download flight software.
[[Page S6055]]
CMBRE supports multiple munitions platforms with a range of
applications that perform preflight checks, periodic
maintenance checks, loading of Operational Flight Program
(OFP) data, loading of munitions mission planning data,
loading of Global Positioning System (GPS) cryptographic
keys, and declassification of munitions memory.
3. The ADU-891 Adapter Group Test Set provides the physical
and electrical interface between the Common Munitions Built-
in-Test Reprogramming Equipment (CMBRE) and the missile.
4. The highest level of classification of defense articles,
components, and services included in this potential sale is
SECRET.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. All defense articles and services listed in this
transmittal have been authorized for release and export to
Japan.
____________________