[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 145 (Tuesday, September 15, 2026)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4723-S4724]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
ARMS SALES NOTIFICATION
Mr. RISCH. Mr. President, section 36(b) of the Arms Export Control
Act
[[Page S4724]]
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:
U.S. Department of State,
Washington, DC.
CONGRESSIONAL NOTIFICATION TRANSMITTAL LETTER
Please find enclosed the following notification from the
Department of State.
Department Notification Number: RSAT 26-78.
Pursuant to the reporting requirements of Section 36(b)(1)
of the Arms Export Control Act (AECA), as amended, we are
forwarding Transmittal No. 26-78 concerning the Navy's
proposed Letter(s) of Offer and Acceptance to the Government
of Korea for defense articles and services estimated to cost
$125 million. We will issue a news release to notify the
public of this proposed sale upon delivery of this letter to
your office.
Recipients:
Speaker of the House of Representatives
House Committee on Foreign Affairs
Senate Committee on Foreign Relations
Sincerely,
Kaitlyn Wolfe,
Senior Bureau Official,
Bureau of Legislative Affairs.
Transmittal No. 26-78
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: Republic of Korea.
(ii) Total Estimated Value:
Major Defense Equipment * $70 million.
Other $55 million.
Total $125 million.
(iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or
Services under Consideration for Purchase:
Major Defense Equipment (MDE): One hundred three (103) AIM-
9X Sidewinder Block II tactical missiles Ten (10) AIM-9X
Sidewinder Block II Tactical Guidance Units
Non-MDE: The following non-MDE items will also be included:
active optical target detector; training; weapon system
support; training aids and devices; spare parts; U.S.
Government and contractor engineering, technical, and
logistics support services; and other related elements of
logistics and program support.
(iv) Military Department: Navy (KS-P-AOF).
(v) Prior Related Cases, if any: KS-P-ALE; KS-P-AMA.
(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: August 21, 2026.
* As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export
Control Act.
POLICY JUSTIFICATION
Korea--AIM-9X Sidewinder Block II Missiles
The Republic of Korea has requested to buy one hundred and
three (103) AIM-9X Sidewinder Block II tactical missiles; and
ten (10) AIM-9X Sidewinder Block II Tactical Guidance Units.
The following non-major defense equipment items will also be
included: active optical target detector; training; weapon
system support; training aids and devices; spare parts; 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
$125 million.
This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and
national security objectives of the United States by
improving the security of a major ally that is an important
force for political stability and economic progress in the
Indo-Pacific region.
The proposed sale will help improve the Republic of Korea's
capability to meet current and future threats by expanding
its air defense capability, deterring aggression in the
region, and ensuring interoperability with U.S. Forces. The
Republic of Korea 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, located
in Arlington, VA. At this time, the U.S. Government is not
aware of any offset agreement proposed in connection with
this potential sale. Any offset agreement will be defined in
negotiations between the purchaser and the contractor.
Implementation of this proposed sale will not require the
assignment of any additional U.S. Government or contractor
representatives to the Republic of Korea.
There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness
as a result of this proposed sale.
Transmittal No. 26-78
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-9X Sidewinder missile is a supersonic, air-to-
air, guided missile that utilizes a passive infrared target
acquisition system, proportional navigation guidance, a
closed loop position servo Fin Actuator Unit (FAU), and an
active optical target detector. A solid propellant rocket
motor provides propulsion. The missile has an angular blast
fragmented warhead controlled by an Electronic Safe Arm
Device. Four control fins activated by the FAU accomplish
missile maneuvering by deflecting rocket motor thrust. The
missile is used for guided flight tracking of an airborne
drone and transmits encrypted telemetry data to aircraft or
ground station receivers.
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 system effectiveness or be used in the
development of a system with similar or advanced
capabilities.
4. A determination has been made that the Republic of Korea
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
the Republic of Korea.
____________________