May 23, 2019 - Issue: Vol. 165, No. 87 — Daily Edition116th Congress (2019 - 2020) - 1st Session

[Page S3097]
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 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,

                                                    Arlington, VA.
     Hon. James E. Risch,
     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. 19-26 
     concerning the Navy's proposed Letter(s) of Offer and 
     Acceptance to the Republic of Korea for defense articles and 
     services estimated to cost $313.9 million. After this letter 
     is delivered to your office, we plan to issue a news release 
     to notify the public of this proposed sale.
           Sincerely,
                                                Charles W. Hooper,
                                Lieutenant General, USA, Director.
       Enclosures.


                         Transmittal No. 19-26

     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 * $292.4 million.
       Other $21.5 million.
       Total $313.9 million.
       (iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or 
     Services under Consideration for Purchase:
       Major Defense Equipment (MDE):
       Up to ninety-four (94) Rounds of SM-2 Block IIIB Standard 
     Missiles.
       Twelve (12) MK 97 MOD 0 Guidance Sections for SM-2 Block 
     IIIB.
       Non-MDE: Also included is technical assistance; training 
     and training equipment; publication and technical data; and 
     related logistics support, and other related elements of 
     logistics and program support.
       (iv) Military Department: Navy (KS-P-AMO and KS-P-AMR)
       (v) Prior Related Cases, if any: KS-P-AHU, KS-P-AJA, KS-P-
     AJX, KS-P-ALM
       (vi) Sales Commission, Fee, etc., Paid, Offered, or Agreed 
     to be Paid: None.
       (vii) Sensitivity of Technology Contained in the Defense 
     Article or Defense Services Proposed to be Sold: See Annex 
     Attached.
       (viii) Date Report Delivered to Congress: May 16, 2019.
       *As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control 
     Act.


                          POLICY JUSTIFICATION

                         Korea--SM-2 Block IIIB

       The Republic of Korea (ROK) has requested to buy up to 
     ninety-four (94) rounds of SM-2 Block IIIB Standard Missiles 
     and twelve (12) MK 97 MOD 0 Guidance Sections for SM-2 Block 
     IIIB. Also included is technical assistance: training and 
     training equipment; publication and technical data; and 
     related logistics support, and other related elements of 
     logistics and program support. The total estimated program 
     cost is $313.9 million.
       This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and 
     national security objectives of the United States by meeting 
     the legitimate security and defense needs of one of the 
     closest allies in the INDOPACOM Theater. The Republic of 
     Korea is one of the major political and economic powers in 
     East Asia and the Western Pacific and a key partner of the 
     United States in ensuring peace and stability in that region.
       The ROK Navy intends to use the SM-2 Block IIIB to 
     supplement it existing inventory. The proposed sale will 
     provide a defensive capability while enhancing 
     interoperability with U.S. and other allied forces. The 
     Republic of Korea will have no difficulty absorbing these 
     additional missiles into its armed forces.
       The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not 
     alter the basic military balance in the region.
       The prime contractor will be the Raytheon Missile Systems 
     Company, Tucson, Arizona. There are no known offset 
     agreements proposed in connection with this potential sale. 
     Any offset agreement will be defined in negotiations between 
     the Purchaser and the prime contractor.
       Implementation of the proposed sale will not require the 
     assignment of any additional U.S. Government or contractor 
     representatives to the ROK. However, U.S. Government or 
     contractor personnel in-country visits will be required on a 
     temporary basis in conjunction with program technical 
     oversight and support requirements.
       There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness 
     as a result of this proposed sale.


                         transmittal No. 19-26

     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 SM-2 Block IIIB Standard Missile consists of a 
     Guidance Unit, Dual Thrust Rocket Motor, Steering Control 
     Unit, and Telemeter with omni-directional antenna. The 
     proposed sale will result in the transfer of sensitive 
     technology and information as well as classified and 
     unclassified defense equipment and technical data. The 
     hardware and installed software is classified SECRET. 
     Training documentation is classified CONFIDENTIAL. Shipboard 
     operational/tactical employment is generally CONFIDENTIAL, 
     but includes some SECRET data. The all-up round Standard 
     Missiles are classified CONFIDENTIAL. Certain operating 
     frequencies and performance characteristics are classified 
     SECRET.
       2. 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.
       3. A determination has been made that the recipient 
     government can provide substantially the same degree of 
     protection for the technology being released as the U.S. 
     Government. This sale supports the U.S. foreign policy and 
     national security objectives as outlined in the Policy 
     Justification.
       4. All defense articles and services listed in this 
     transmittal have been authorized for release and export to 
     the Republic of Korea.

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