[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 140 (Tuesday, September 10, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5918-S5919]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        ARMS SALES NOTIFICATIONS

  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. 24-01, 
     concerning the Air Force's proposed Letter(s) of Offer and 
     Acceptance to the Government of Israel for defense articles 
     and services estimated to cost $18.82 billion. We will issue 
     a news release to notify the public of this proposed sale 
     upon delivery of this letter to your office.
           Sincerely,
                                                  J. Aaron Harding
                         (For Michael F. Miller, Acting Director).
       Enclosures.


                         Transmittal No. 24-01

     Notice of Proposed Issuance of Letter of Offer Pursuant to 
         Section 36(b)(l) of the Arms Export Control Act, as 
         amended
       (i) Prospective Purchaser: Government of Israel.
       (ii) Total Estimated Value:
       Major Defense Equipment * $9.29 billion.
       Other $9.53 billion
       Total $18.82 billion.
       Funding Source: Foreign Military Financing
       (iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or 
     Services under Consideration for Purchase: The Government of 
     lsrael has requested to buy new F-15IA multi-role fighter 
     aircraft, as well as Mid-Life Update modification kits for 
     its existing twenty-five (25) F-15I multi-role fighter 
     aircraft. This notification includes:
       Major Defense Equipment (MDE):

[[Page S5919]]

       Up to fifty (50) F-15IA aircraft.
       One hundred twenty (120) F110-GE-129 engines.
       Ninety (90) Advanced Display Core Processors II.
       Seventy-five (75) APG-82(V)1 Active Electronically Scanned 
     Array radars.
       Fifty (50) AN/AAQ-13 LANTIRN navigation pods with 
     containers.
       Three-hundred twenty (320) LAU-128 Advanced Medium Range 
     Air-to-Air Missile launchers.
       Twenty-five (25) M61A Vulcan Cannons.
       One hundred eighty (180) Embedded Global Positioning 
     System/Inertial Navigation System devices with M-Code.
       Non-MDE: Also included are Cartridge Actuated Devices and 
     Propellant Actuated Devices; Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing 
     Systems; APX-119 Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) systems; 
     KIV-77 Mode 4/5 IFF cryptographic appliques; AN/PYQ-10 Simple 
     Key Loaders; impulse cartridges, chaff, and flares; 
     integration and test support and equipment; aircraft and 
     munitions support and support equipment; secure 
     communications equipment, precision navigation, and 
     cryptogtaphic devices; classified software development, 
     delivery, and support; spare parts, consumables and 
     accessories, and repair and return support; major and minor 
     modifications, maintenance, and maintenance support; 
     facilities and construction support; transportation and 
     airlift support; classified publications and technical 
     documentation; personnel training and training equipment; 
     warranties; studies and surveys; U.S. Government and 
     contractor engineering, technical, and logistics support 
     services; and other related elements of logistics and program 
     support.
       (iv) Military Department: Air Force (IS-D-SAH).
       (v) Prior Related Cases, if any: IS-D-SPD.
       (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: August 13, 2024.
       *As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control 
     Act.


                          POLICY JUSTIFICATION

       Israel--F-15IA and F-15I+ Aircraft
       The Government of Israel has requested to buy up to fifty 
     (50) new F-15IA multi-role fighter aircraft, as well as Mid-
     Life Update modification kits for its existing twenty-five 
     (25) F-15I multi-role fighter aircraft; one hundred twenty 
     (120) F110-GE-129 engines; ninety (90) Advanced Display Core 
     Processors II; seventy-five (75) APG-82(V)1 Active 
     Electronically Scanned Array radars; fifty (50) AN/AAQ-13 
     LANTIRN navigation pods with containers; three-hundred twenty 
     (320) LAU-128 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile 
     launchers; twenty-five (25) M61A Vulcan cannons; and one 
     hundred eighty (180) Embedded Global Positioning System/
     Inertial Navigation System devices with M-Code. Also included 
     are Cartridge Actuated Devices and Propellant Actuated 
     Devices; Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing Systems; APX-119 
     Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) systems; KIV-77 Mode 4/5 
     IFF cryptographic appliques; AN/PYQ-10 Simple Key Loaders; 
     impulse cartridges, chaff, and flares; integration and test 
     support and equipment; aircraft and munitions support and 
     support equipment; secure communications equipment, precision 
     navigation, and cryptographic devices; classified software 
     development, delivery, and support; spare parts, consumables 
     and accessories, and repair and return support; major and 
     minor modifications, maintenance, and maintenance support; 
     facilities and construction support; transportation and 
     airlift support; classified publications and technical 
     documentation; personnel training and training equipment; 
     warranties; studies and surveys; U.S. Government and 
     contractor engineering, technical, and logistics support 
     services; and other related elements of logistics and program 
     support. The estimated total cost is $18.82 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 Israel's capability to meet 
     current and future enemy air-to-air and air-to-ground 
     threats, strengthen its homeland defense, and serve as a 
     deterrent to regional threats. Israel will have no difficulty 
     absorbing these articles and services 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 Boeing Corporation, 
     located in St. Louis, MO. The purchaser typically requests 
     offsets. Any offset agreement will be defined in negotiations 
     between the purchaser and the contractor.
       Implementation of this proposed sale will require the 
     assignment of five additional U.S. Government representatives 
     and one U.S. contractor representative to Israel for a 
     duration of approximately eight years to support modification 
     of the F-15I+, provide security for classified equipment, and 
     provide technical assistance, familiarization, and training 
     for Israel's F-15IA and F-15I+ programs.
       There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness 
     as a result of this proposed sale.


                         Transmittal No. 24-01

     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 F-15IA aircraft is a two-seat, twin-engine, all-
     weather, dual-role, advanced long-range interdiction and 
     tactical aircraft based on the F-15E airframe. It features 
     advanced avionics, electronic warfare, and self-protection 
     systems, along with superior weapons payload. The F-15IA can 
     be employed in air superiority, interdiction, close air 
     support, and escort roles.
       2. General Electric F110-GE-129 engines are afterburning 
     turbofan jet engines that power the F-15 and deliver 29,100 
     pound (131 kN) thrust.
       3. The Advanced Display Core Processor II is the central 
     aircraft computer of the F-15. It serves as the hub for all 
     aircraft subsystems and avionics data transfer.
       4. The AN/APG-82(V) 1 is an Active Electronically Scanned 
     Array radar upgrade for the F-15. It includes higher 
     processor power, higher transmission power, more sensitive 
     receiver electronics, and synthetic aperture radar, which 
     creates higher-resolution ground maps from a greater distance 
     than existing mechanically scanned array radars. The upgrade 
     features an increase in detection range of air targets, 
     increases in processing speed and memory, as well as 
     significant improvements in all modes.
       5. The LANTIRN (AN/AAQ-13) is a navigation pod that 
     provides high-speed penetration and precision attack 
     assistance in all flying conditions. The pod uses a terrain-
     following radar and a fixed infrared sensor to display an 
     image of the terrain in front of the aircraft on a heads-up 
     display.
       6. The LAU-128 missile launcher provides a mechanical and 
     electrical interface between AIM-120 Advanced Medium Range 
     Air-to-Air Missiles and the aircraft.
       7. The M61 20mm Vulcan Cannon is a six-barreled automatic 
     cannon chambered in 20 x 120mm with a cyclic rate of fire 
     from 2,500-6,000 shots per minute. This weapon is a 
     hydraulically powered air-cooled Gatling gun used to damage 
     and destroy aerial targets, suppress and incapacitate 
     personnel targets, and damage and destroy moving and 
     stationary light materiel targets,
       8. The M-Code capable Embedded Global Positioning System 
     (GPS)/Inertial Navigation System, with an embedded GPS 
     Precise Positioning Service Receiver Application Module-
     Standard Electronic Module, is a self-contained navigation 
     system that provides acceleration, velocity, position, 
     attitude, platform azimuth, magnetic and true heading, 
     altitude, body angular rates, time tags, and coordinated 
     universal time synchronized time. The embedded GRAM-SIM 
     enables access to both the encrypted P(Y) and M-Code signals, 
     providing protection against active spoofing attacks, 
     enhanced military exclusivity, integrity, and anti-jam 
     capabilities.
       9. The Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing System is a modified 
     HGU-55/P helmet that incorporates a visor-projected Heads-Up 
     Display to cue weapons and aircraft sensors to air and ground 
     targets, enabling the pilot to monitor aircraft information 
     without interrupting field of view through the cockpit 
     canopy. The system uses a magnetic transmitter unit fixed to 
     the pilot's seat and a magnetic field probe mounted on the 
     helmet to define helmet pointing positioning. A Helmet 
     Vehicle Interface interacts with the aircraft system bus to 
     provide signal generation for the helmet display,
       10. The AN/APX-119 is an Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) 
     transponder that provides military aircraft with a secure 
     combat identification capability to help reduce fratricide 
     and enhance battlespace awareness, while providing safe 
     access to civilian airspace.
       11. The KIV-77 is a cryptographic applique for IFF. It can 
     be loaded with Mode 5 classified elements.
       12. The AN/PYQ-10 Simple Key Loader is a handheld device 
     used for securely receiving, storing, and transferring data 
     between compatible cryptographic and communications 
     equipment.
       13. The highest level of classification of defense 
     articles, components, and services included in this potential 
     sale is SECRET.
       14. 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.
       15. 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 sale 
     is necessary in furtherance of the U.S. foreign policy and 
     national security objectives outlined in the Policy 
     Justification.
       16. All defense articles and services listed in this 
     transmittal have been authorized for release and export to 
     Israel.

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