[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.

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