[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 84 (Wednesday, May 15, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3706-S3707]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
ARMS SALES NOTIFICATION
Mr. CARDIN. Madam 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 still available to the full Senate, I ask unanimous
consent to have printed in the Record the notifications that have been
received. If the cover letter references a classified annex, then such
an 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. 24-24,
concerning the Navy's proposed Letter(s) of Offer and
Acceptance to the Government of Romania for defense articles
and services estimated to cost $340.8 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. 24-24
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 Romania.
(ii) Total Estimated Value:
Major Defense Equipment * $285.7 million.
Other $55.1 million.
Total $340.8 million.
Funding Source: National Funds.
(iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or
Services under Consideration for Purchase:
Major Defense Equipment (MDE):
Up to three hundred (300) AIM-9X Sidewinder Block II
Tactical Missiles.
Forty (40) AIM-9X Sidewinder Block II Tactical Missile
Guidance Units.
Forty (40) AIM-9X Sidewinder Block II Captive Air Training
Missiles (CATM).
Twenty (20) AIM-9X Sidewinder Block II CATM Guidance Units.
Non-MDE: Also included are missile containers; personnel
training and training equipment; classified and unclassified
publications and technical documents; warranties; U.S.
Government engineering, technical, and logistics support
services; and other related elements of logistics and program
support.
(iv) Military Department: Navy (RO-P-AAK).
(v) Prior Related Cases if any: RO-P-AAA, RO-P-AAJ.
(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: May 14, 2024.
[[Page S3707]]
* As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control
Act.
POLICY JUSTIFICATION
Romania--AIM-9X Sidewinder Block II Missiles
The Government of Romania has requested to buy up to three
hundred (300) AIM-9X Sidewinder Block II Tactical Missiles;
forty (40) AIM-9X Sidewinder Block II Tactical Missile
Guidance Units; forty (40) AIM-9X Sidewinder Block II Captive
Air Training Missiles (CATM); and twenty (20) AIM-9X
Sidewinder Block II CATM Guidance Units. Also included are
missile containers; personnel training and training
equipment; classified and unclassified publications and
technical documents; warranties; U.S. Government engineering,
technical, and logistics support services; and other related
elements of logistics and program support. The estimated
total program cost is $340.8 million.
This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and
national security objectives of the United States by helping
to improve the security of a NATO Ally that is an important
force for political and economic stability in Europe.
The proposed sale will improve Romania's capability to meet
current and future threats by providing air-to-air missiles
for its F-16 fleet in support of NATO's defense mission.
Romania will have no difficulty absorbing these weapons 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, located
in 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 Romania; however, U.S. Government
engineering and technical services may be required on an
interim basis for training and technical assistance.
There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness
as a result of this proposed sale.
Transmittal No. 24-24
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. AIM-9X Block II Sidewinder Missile represents a
substantial increase in missile performance over the AIM-9M
and replaces the AIM-9X Block I Missile configuration. The
missile includes a high off-boresight seeker, enhanced
countermeasure rejection capability, a low drag/high angle of
attack airframe, and the ability to integrate the Helmet
Mounted Cueing System. The most current AIM-9X Block II
Operational Flight Software developed for all international
partners, which is authorized by U.S. Government export
policy, provides fifth-generation infrared missile
capabilities such as Lock-On-After-Launch, Weapons Data Link,
Surface Attack, and Surface Launch. No software source code
or algorithms will be released.
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 Romania 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
Romania.
____________________