[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 134 (Friday, July 30, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5215-S5216]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
ARMS SALES NOTIFICATION
Mr. MENENDEZ. 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. Robert Menendez,
Chairman, Committee on Foreign Relations,
U.S. Senate, Washington, DC.
Dear Mr. Chairman: Pursuant to the reporting requirements
of Section 36(b)(l) of the Arms Export Control Act, as
amended, we are forwarding herewith Transmittal No. 21-52,
concerning the Navy's proposed Letter(s) of Offer and
Acceptance to the Government of Israel for defense articles
and services estimated to cost $3.4 billion. After this
letter is delivered to your office, we plan to issue a news
release to notify the public of this proposed sale.
Sincerely,
Heidi H. Grant,
Director.
Enclosures.
Transmittal no. 21-52
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 Israel
(ii) Total Estimated Value:
Major Defense Equipment* $2.4 billion.
Other $1.0 billion.
TOTAL $3.4 billion.
Funding Source: Foreign Military Financing (FMF)
(iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or
Services under Consideration for Purchase:
Major Defense Equipment (MDE):
Up to Eighteen (18) CH-53K Heavy Lift Helicopters.
Up to Sixty (60) T408-GE-400 Engines (54 installed, 6
spares).
Up to Thirty-six (36) Embedded Global Positioning System/
Inertial Navigation Systems (EGI) with Selective
Availability/Anti-Spoofing Module (SAASM).
Non-MDE: Also included is communication equipment; GAU-21
.50 caliber Machine Guns; Mission Planning System; facilities
study, design and construction; spare and repair parts;
support and test equipment; publications and technical
documentation; aircrew and maintenance 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 (IS-P-SCN)
(v) Prior Related Cases, if any: None
(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: July 30, 2021
*As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control
Act.
POLICY JUSTIFICATION
Israel--CH-53K Heavy Lift Helicopters with Support
The Government of Israel has requested to buy up to
eighteen (18) CH-53K Heavy Lift Helicopters; up to sixty (60)
T408-GE-400 Engines (54 installed, 6 spares); and up to
thirty-six (36) Embedded Global Positioning System/Inertial
Navigation Systems (EGI) with Selective Availability/Anti-
Spoofing Module (SAASM). Also included is communication
equipment; GAU-21 .50 caliber Machine Guns; Mission Planning
System; facilities study, design and construction; spare and
repair parts; support and test equipment; publications and
technical documentation; aircrew and maintenance training;
U.S. Government and contractor engineering, technical, and
logistics support services; and other related elements of
logistics and program support. The total estimated cost is
$3.4 billion.
The United States is committed to the security of Israel,
and it is vital to U.S. national interests to assist Israel
to develop and maintain a strong and ready self-defense
capability. This proposed sale is consistent with those
objectives.
The proposed sale will improve the Israeli Air Force's
capability to transport armored vehicles, personnel, and
equipment to support distributed operations deep inland from
a sea-based center of operations. Israel will use the
enhanced capability as a deterrent to regional threats and to
strengthen its homeland defense. Israel will have no
difficulty absorbing this equipment into its armed forces.
The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not
alter the basic military balance in the region.
The prime contractors will be Lockheed Martin Global, Inc.,
Shelton, Connecticut; and General Electric Company, Lynn,
Massachusetts. There are no known offset agreements proposed
in connection with this potential sale. Any offset agreements
will be defined in negotiations between the purchaser and the
contractor(s).
Implementation of this proposed sale will require multiple
trips by U.S. Government and contractor representatives to
participate in program and technical reviews. It will also
require approximately four (4) contractor support
representatives to reside in country for a period of three
(3) years to support this program.
There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness
as a result of this proposed sale.
Transmittal No. 21-52
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 CH-53K Heavy Lift Helicopter focuses primarily on
the transport of armored vehicles, personnel, and equipment
to support distributed operations deep inland from a sea-
based center of operations. The CH-53K
[[Page S5216]]
carries several sensors and data links to enhance its ability
to operate in hostile environments and in coordination with
group forces. The aircraft is night vision compatible. The
sensitive technologies include:
a. Communications security devices contain sensitive
encryption algorithms and keying material. The purchasing
country has previously been released and utilizes COMSEC
devices in accordance with set procedures and without issue.
b. Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) (KIV-78) contains
embedded security devices containing sensitive encryption
algorithms and keying material. The purchasing country will
utilize COMSEC devices in accordance with set procedures.
c. GPS PPS/SAASM/MGUE/ADAP--Global Positioning System (GPS)
Precise Positioning Service (PPS) provides space-based Global
Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) signals that have reliable
location and time information in all weather, at all times,
and anywhere on or near the earth when and where there is an
unobstructed line of sight to four or more GPS satellites.
The Selective Availability/Anti-Spoofing Module (SAASM) and
Modernized GPS User Equipment (MGUE) are used as military
embedded GPS receivers (EGRs) to provide for decryption and
use of the GPS PPS by the Embedded GPS/Inertial Navigation
System (EGI). In addition, the Advanced Digital Antenna
Production (ADAP) GPS anti-jam protection system provides
electronic protection from enemy countermeasures to disrupt
and jam GPS signals. The combination of the EGI and the ADAP
provide for robust positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT)
capability.
2. All the mission data, including sensitive parameters, is
loaded from an off board station before each flight and does
not stay with the aircraft after electrical power has been
removed. Sensitive technologies are protected as defined in
the program protection and anti-tamper plans.
3. The highest level of classification of defense articles,
components, and services included in this potential sale is
SECRET.
4. If a technologically advanced adversary were to obtain
knowledge of the specific hardware or 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.
5. A determination has been made that Israel 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.
6. All defense articles and services listed in this
transmittal are authorized for release and export to the
Government of Israel.
____________________