[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 10 (Tuesday, January 19, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Pages S55-S56]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        ARMS SALES NOTIFICATION

  Mr. RISCH. 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 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. 20-65 concerning the Air Force's proposed 
Letter(s) of Offer and Acceptance to the Government of Egypt for 
defense articles and services estimated to cost $65.6 million. After 
this letter is delivered to your office, we plan to issue a news 
release to notify the public of this proposed sale.
                                                   Heidi H. Grant,
                                                         Director.
       Enclosures.


                         Transmittal No. 20-65

     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 Egypt.
       (ii) Total Estimated Value:
       Major-Defense Equipment * $56.8 million.
       Other $ 8.8 million.
       Total $65.6 milllon.
       (iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or 
     Services under Consideration for Purchase:
       Major Defense Equipment (MDE):
       Twenty (20) AN/AAQ-33 Sniper Advanced Targeting Pods 
     (ATPs).

[[Page S56]]

       Non-MDE: Also included are pylons; shipping containers; 
     spare and repair/return parts; ground handling equipment; 
     publications and technical documentation; software and 
     software support; personnel training; U.S. Government and 
     contractor engineering, technical, and logistical support 
     services; and other related elements or program and 
     logistical support.
       (iv) Military Department: Air Force (EG-D-QFP).
       (v) Prior Related Cases, if any: EG-D-SAB.
       (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 Attached 
     Annex.
       (viii) Date Report Delivered to Congress: December 28, 
     2020.
       *As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control 
     Act.


                          POLICY JUSTIFICATION

              Egypt--Sniper Advanced Targeting Pods (ATPs)

       The Government of Egypt has requested to buy twenty (20) 
     AN/AAQ-33 Sniper ATPs. Also Included are pylons; shipping 
     containers; spare and repajr/return parts; ground handling 
     equipment; publications and technical documentation; software 
     and software support; personnel training; U.S. Government and 
     contractor engineering, technical, and logistical Support 
     services; and other related elements of program and 
     logistical support. The estimated total program cost is $65.6 
     million.
       This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and 
     national security of the United States by helping to improve 
     the security of a Major Non-NATO Ally country that continues 
     to be an important strategic partner in the Middle East.
       The proposed sale will improve Egypt's capability and 
     effectiveness to meet current and future threats by providing 
     additional precision targeting capability to conduct border 
     security and counterterrorism operations, The added precision 
     strike capability will better enable Egypt to conduct 
     operations while minimizing collateral damage, Egypt will 
     have no difficulty absorbing the additional equipment 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 Lockheed Martin 
     Aeronautics Company in Fort Worth, TX. 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 Egypt.
       There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness 
     as a result of this proposed sale.


                         Transmittal No. 20-65

     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 AN/AAQ--33 SNIPER Pod is a multi-sensor, electro-
     optical targeting pod incorporating infrared, low-light 
     television camera, laser range finder/target designator, and 
     laser spot tracker. It is used to provide navigation and 
     targeting for military aircraft in adverse weather and using 
     precision-guided weapons such as laser-guided bombs. It also 
     provides positive target identification, autonomous tracking, 
     coordinate generation, and precise weapons guidance from 
     extended standoff ranges, It offers much greater target 
     resolution and imagery accuracy than previous systems.
       2. The highest level of classification of information 
     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 Government of Egypt 
     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 Government of Egypt.

                          ____________________