[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 167 (Wednesday, November 13, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6549-S6550]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
ARMS SALES NOTIFICATIONS
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 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,
[[Page S6550]]
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. 24-90,
concerning the Navy's proposed Letter(s) of Offer and
Acceptance to the Government of Japan for defense articles
and services estimated to cost $113 million. We will issue a
news release to notify the public of this proposed sale upon
delivery of this letter to your office.
Sincerely,
Michael F. Miller,
Director.
Enclosures.
transmittal no. 24-90
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* $2.6 million.
Other $110.4 million.
Total $113.0 million.
(iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or
Services under Consideration for Purchase:
Major Defense Equipment (MDE):
Up to two (2) BQM-177A Subsonic Sea-Skimming Aerial Targets
(SSAT) for Aegis System Equipped Vessels (ASEV).
Non-Major Defense Equipment: The following non-MDE items
will also be included: GQM-163 target drones; follow-on
technical support for ASEVs, including for Combat Systems Sea
Qualification Trials (CSSQT) and sustainment support
services; Aegis computer software updates; combat systems
integration; system integration, testing, overhauls, and
upgrades; development, familiarization, operational, and
maintenance support; classified books and other publications
(technical and nontechnical); adaption data, annual service
agreements; test support, technical documentation; personnel
training; U S. Government and contractor engineering,
technical, and logistics support services, and other related
elements of logistics and program support.
(iv) Military Department: Navy (JA-P-QPI, JA-P-QQU)
(v) Prior Related Cases, if any: JA-P-QCX, JA-P-QEZ, JA-P-
QKW
(vi) Sales Commission, Fee, etc., Paid, Offered, or Agreed
to be Paid: None known
(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: October 25, 2024.
* As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control
Act.
policy justification
Japan--Subsonic Sea-Skimming Aerial Targets and Follow-On Technical
Support
The Government of Japan has requested to buy up to two (2)
BQM-177A Subsonic Sea-Skimming Aerial Targets (SSAT) for
Aegis System Equipped Vessels (ASEV) The following non-MDE
items will also be included. GQM-163 target drones; follow-on
technical support for ASEVs, including for Combat Systems Sea
Qualification Trials (CS SQT) and sustamment support
services; Aegis computer software updates; combat systems
integration, system integration, testing, overhauls, and
upgrades; development, familiarization, operational, and
maintenance support; classified books and other publications
(technical and non-technical); adoption data; annual service
agreements; test support, technical documentation; personnel
training; U.S Government and contractor engineering,
technical, and logistics support services, and other related
elements of logistics and program support The estimated total
cost is $113 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 ensuring the Japan
Maritime Self Defense Force's (JMSDF) Aegis fleet remains
ready to provide critical capabilities in the defense of
Japan Japan will have no difficulty absorbing this equipment
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 for the BQM-177A SSATs will be
Kratos Defense, located in Sacramento, CA, and Fort Walton
Beach, FL. The principal contractor for the GQM-163A target
drones will be Northrop Grumman, located in Chandler, AZ The
principal contractor for the Aegis Weapon System (AWS) will
be Lockheed Martin Corporation, located in Moorestown, NJ.
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 24-90
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 BQM-177A Subsonic Sea-Skimming Aerial Target (SSAT)
is a subsonic aerial target with capabilities to provide
realistic threat representation. This target replicates modem
subsonic anti-ship cruise missile threats in support of fleet
training, developmental, and operational testing of major
Department of Defense and international weapon systems The
BQM-177A aerial targets support live-fire test and evaluation
(T&E) events for Aegis, SM-6, SM-2, Rolling Airframe Missile
(RAM), Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile (ESSM), and fleet training
events The Aegis Weapon System (AWS) follow-on technical
support includes Combat Systems Sea Qualification Trials
(CSSQT) test and evaluation services and software in support
of Aegis Weapon System Baseline 9 with integrated ballistic
missile defense.
2. The GQM-163A Coyote is a non-recoverable supersonic sea-
skimming aerial target capable of speeds in excess of Mach 2
with terminal altitudes from 13 to 66 feet (absolute) As a
diving target it has a maximum altitude of 52,000 feet and
diving angles between 15 and 55 degrees. This aerial target
replicates a family of supersonic sea-skimming anti-ship
cruise missile threats to meet critical T&E requirements of
Ship Self-Defense Systems (SSDS) and fleet training. The GQM-
163A aerial target supports live-fire T&E events for Aegis,
SM-6, SM-2, RAM, ESSM, and fleet training events.
3. The at-sea CSSQT events provide tracking and live-fire
events of air defense warfare (ADW) (including integrated air
and missile defense (IAMD)), surface warfare (SUW), undersea
warfare (USW), electronic warfare (EW), and command, control,
and communications (CCC)).
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
proposed 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
the Government of Japan.
____________________