[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.
____________________