[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 140 (Tuesday, September 10, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5920-S5921]
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. 24-10,
concerning the Army's proposed Letter(s) of Offer and
Acceptance to the Government of Israel for defense articles
and services estimated to cost $774.1 million. We will issue
a news release to notify the public of this proposed sale
upon delivery of this letter to your office.
Sincerely,
Aaron Harding
(For Michael F. Miller, Acting Director).
Enclosures.
[[Page S5921]]
Transmittal No. 24-10
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* $458.4 million.
Other $315.7 million.
Total $774.1 million.
Funding Source: Foreign Military Financing and National
Funds.
(iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or
Services under Consideration for Purchase:
Major Defense Equipment (MDE):
Thirty-two thousand seven hundred thirty-nine (32,739)
120mm tank cartridges, consisting of:
120mm M1147 High Explosive Multi-Purpose with Tracer (HEMP-
T) cartridges and/or;
120mm M830A1 High Explosive Multi-Purpose Anti-Tank (MPAT)
with Tracer cartridges.
Non-MDE: The following non-MDE is also included: various
120mm tank munitions; 120mm munition canisters;
transportation costs; publications and technical
documentation; U.S. Government and contractor engineering,
technical, and logistics support services; and other related
elements of logistics and program support.
(iv) Military Department: Army (IS-B-VDM).
(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: August 13, 2024.
* As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export
Control Act.
policy justification
Israel--120mm Tank Cartridges
The Government of Israel has requested to buy thirty-two
thousand seven hundred thirty-nine (32,739) 120mm tank
cartridges, consisting of 120mm M1147 High.Explosive Multi-
Purpose with Tracer (HEMP-T) cartridges and/or 120mm M830A1
High Explosive Multi-Purpose Anti-Tank (MPAT) with Tracer
cartridges. The following non-MDE is also included: various
120mm tank munitions; 120mm munitions canisters;
transportation costs; publications and technical
documentation; 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 $774.1 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.
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 principal contractors will be General Dynamics Ordnance
and Tactical Systems, located in St. Petersburg, FL, and
Northrop Grumman Defense Systems, located in Falls Church,
VA. 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 Israel.
There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness
as a result of this proposed sale.
Transmittal No. 24-10
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 120mm M1147 High Explosive Multi-Purpose with Tracer
(HEMP-T) cartridge is a line-of-sight, full-bore, multi-
purpose munition for the Abrams tank. It uses the Abrams
Ammunition Data Link (ADL) hardware modification fielded on
the M1A2SEPV2 platform to program the multi-mode fuze that
provides three modes of operation: point detonate (PD), point
detonate delay (DLY), and airburst. On PD/DLY mode, the high
explosive payload is used to defeat bunkers, light armor, and
breach obstacles and double reinforced concrete walls. On
airburst mode, the M1147 provides the capability to defeat
Anti-Tank Guided Missile (ATGM) teams.
2. The 120mm M830A1 High Explosive Multi-Purpose Anti-Tank
(MPAT) with Tracer cartridge is a line-of-sight, full-bore,
multi-purpose munition for the Abrams tank. It requires the
gunner to manually select the fuze mode to either point
detonate against buildings, bunkers, and light armor vehicles
or similar target sets, or proximity for anti-helicopter
self-defense capabilities.
3. The highest level of classification of defense articles,
components, and services included in this potential sale is
Controlled Unclassified Information.
4. 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.
5. A determination has been made that Israel will 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.
6. All defense articles and services listed in this
transmittal have been authorized for release and export to
the Government of Israel.
____________________