[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 140 (Tuesday, September 10, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5919-S5920]
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
[[Page S5920]]
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. 24-08,
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 $102.5 million. 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. 24-08
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 lsrael.
(ii) Total Estimated Value:
Major Defense Equipment * $66.0 million.
Other $36.5 million.
Total $102.5 million.
Funding Source: Foreign Military Financing.
(iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or
Services under Consideration for Purchase:
Major Defense Equipment (MOE): Thirty (30) AIM-l20C-8
Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM).
One (1) AMRAAM guidance section (spare).
Non-MDE: The following non-MDE items will also be included:
AMRAAM control sections and containers; Common Munitions
Built-In-Test/Reprogramming Equipment (CMBRE); ADU-891/E
Adapter Group Computer Test Sets; spare parts, consumables,
accessories, repair and return support, classified and
unclassified publications, and technical documentation;
classified software delivery and support; munitions support
and support equipment; test support and support equipment;
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-YAB)
(v) Prior Related Cases, if any: IS-D-MXP, IS-D-QFD, IS-D-
YES.
(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--Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles
The Government of Israel has requested to buy thirty (30)
AIM-120C-8 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM)
and one (1) AMRAAM guidance section (spare). The following
non-MDE items will also be included: AMRAAM control sections
and containers; Common Munitions Built-In-Test/Reprogramming
Equipment (CMBRE); ADU-891/E Adapter Group Computer Test
Sets; spare parts, consumables, accessories, repair and
return support, classified and unclassified publications, and
technical documentation; classified software delivery and
support; munitions support and support equipment; test
support and support equipment; personnel training and
training equipment; warranties; studies and surveys;
contractor logistics support services; 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 $102.5 million.
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 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 RTX Corporation, located in
Tucson, AZ. 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 three additional U.S. Government
representatives and one U.S. contractor representative to
Israel for a duration of approximately three years to support
installation and integration of equipment, provide security
for classified equipment, and provide technical assistance,
familiarization, and training.
There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness
as a result of this proposed sale.
Transmittal No. 24-08
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 AIM-120C-8 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile
(AMRAAM) is a supersonic, air-launched, aerial intercept
guided missile featuring digital technology and micro-
miniature, solid-state electronics. AMRAAM capabilities
include look-down/shoot-down, multiple launches against
multiple targets, resistance to electronic countermeasures,
and interception of high- and low-flying and maneuvering
targets. This potential sale will include an AMRAAM guidance
section and control sections.
2. The ADU-891 Adapter Group Test Set provides the physical
and electrical interface between the Common Munitions Built-
in-Test (BIT)/Reprogramming Equipment (CMBRE) and the
missile.
3. CMBRE is support equipment used to interface with weapon
systems to initiate and report Built-in-Test results as well
as upload and download flight software. CMBRE supports
multiple munitions platforms with a range of applications
that perform preflight checks, periodic maintenance checks,
loading of Operational Flight Program (OFP) data, loading of
munitions mission planning data, loading of global
positioning system cryptographic keys, and declassification
of munitions memory.
4. The highest level of classification of defense articles,
components, and services included in this potential sale is
SECRET.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. All defense articles and services listed in this
transmittal have been authorized for release and export to
Israel.
____________________