[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.

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