[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 49 (Wednesday, March 20, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2463-S2464]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
ARMS SALES NOTIFICATION
Mr. CARDIN. 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 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:
Defense Security
Cooperation Agency,
Washington, DC.
Hon. Benjamin L. Cardin,
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. 23-56,
concerning the Army's proposed Letter(s) of Offer and
Acceptance to the Government of Morocco for defense articles
and services estimated to cost $260 million. We will issue a
news release to notify the public of this proposed sale upon
delivery of this letter to your office.
Sincerely,
James A. Hursch,
Director.
Enclosures.
Transmittal No. 23-56
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 Morocco.
(ii) Total Estimated Value:
Major Defense Equipment * $180 million.
Other $80 million.
Total $260 million.
Funding Source: National Funds.
(iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or
Services under Consideration for Purchase:
Major Defense Equipment (MDE):
Six hundred twelve (612) Javelin FGM-148F Missiles
(includes twelve (12) Fly-to-Buy Missiles).
Two hundred (200) Javelin Lightweight Command Launch Units
(LWCLUs).
Non-MDE: Also included are missile simulation rounds;
Javelin support equipment; hand and measuring tools; books
and publications; power plus distribution equipment;
component parts and support equipment; life cycle support and
other technical assistance; gunner training; ammunition
officer's training; System Integration and Check Out (SICO);
maintenance training; Tactical Aviation and Ground Munitions
(TAGM); and other related elements of logistics and program
support.
(iv) Military Department: Army (MO-B-UUG).
(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 Attached
Annex.
(viii) Date Report Delivered to Congress: March 19, 2024.
* As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control
Act.
POLICY JUSTIFICATION
Morocco--Javelin Missiles
The Government of Morocco has requested to buy six hundred
twelve (612) Javelin FGM-148F missiles (includes twelve (12)
fly-to-buy missiles) and two hundred (200) Javelin
Lightweight Command Launch Units (LWCLUs). Also included are
missile simulation rounds; Javelin support equipment; hand
and measuring tools; books and publications; power plus
distribution equipment; component parts and support
equipment; life cycle support and other technical assistance;
gunner training; ammunition officer's training; System
Integration and Checkout (SICO); maintenance training;
Tactical Aviation and Ground Munitions (TAGM); and other
related elements of logistics and program support. The total
estimated cost is $260 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 that continues to be an
important force for political stability and economic progress
in North Africa.
The proposed sale will improve Morocco's long-term defense
capacity to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity
and to meet its national defense requirements. Morocco 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 the Javelin Joint Venture
between Lockheed Martin in Orlando, FL, and RTX Corporation
in Tucson, AZ. There are no known offset agreements in
connection with this potential sale.
Implementation of this proposed sale will not require the
assignment of U.S. Government or contractor representatives
to Morocco.
There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness
as a result of this proposed sale.
TRANSMITTAL NO. 23-56
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 Javelin Weapon System is a medium-range, man
portable, shoulder-launched, fire and forget, anti-tank
system for infantry, scouts, and combat engineers. It may
also be mounted on a variety of platforms including vehicles,
aircraft, and watercraft. The system weighs 49.5 pounds and
has a maximum range in excess of 2,500 meters. The system is
highly lethal against tanks and other systems with
conventional and reactive armors. The system possesses a
secondary capability against bunkers.
2. Javelin's key technical feature is the use of fire-and-
forget technology which allows the gunner to fire and
immediately relocate or take cover. Additional special
features are the top attack and direct fire modes, an
advanced tandem warhead and imaging infrared seeker, target
lock-on before launch, and soft launch from enclosures or
covered fighting positions. The Javelin missile also has a
minimum smoke motor that decreases the chance of it being
detected on the battlefield.
3. The Javelin Weapon System is comprised of two major
tactical components, a reusable Light Weight Command Launch
Unit (LWCLU) and a round contained in a disposable launch
tube assembly. The LWCLU incorporates an integrated day/night
sight that provides target engagement capability in adverse
weather and countermeasure environments. The LWCLU may also
be used in a stand-alone mode for battlefield surveillance
and target detection. The LWCLU's thermal sight includes an
advanced Forward Looking Infrared (FLIR) sensor. To
facilitate initial loading and subsequent updating of
software, all on-board missile software is uploaded via the
LWCLU after mating and prior to launch.
4. The missile is autonomously guided to the target using
an imaging infrared seeker and adaptive correlation tracking
algorithms. This allows the gunner to take cover or reload
and engage another target after firing a missile. The missile
has an advanced tandem warhead and can be used in either the
top attack or direct fire modes (for target under cover). An
onboard flight computer guides the missile to the selected
target.
5. The highest level of classification of defense articles,
components, and services included in this potential sale is
SECRET.
6. If a technologically advanced adversary obtains
knowledge of the specific hardware and software elements, the
information could be used to develop countermeasures or
equivalent systems that might reduce weapon system
effectiveness or be used in the development of a system with
similar or advanced capabilities.
7. A determination has been made that Morocco can provide
substantially the same degree of protection for the sensitive
technology being released as the U.S. Government. This
proposed sale is necessary to further the U.S. foreign policy
and national security objectives outlined in the Policy
Justification.
8. All defense articles and services listed on this
transmittal are authorized for release and export to the
Government of Morocco.
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