[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 140 (Tuesday, September 10, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5921-S5922]
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. 24-39, 
     concerning the Army's proposed Letter(s) of Offer and 
     Acceptance to the Government of Israel for defense articles 
     and services estimated to cost $61.1 million. We will issue a 
     news release to notify the public of this proposed sale upon 
     delivery of this letter to your office.
           Sincerely,
                                                  J. Aaron Harding
                         (For Michael F. Miller, Acting Director).
       Enclosures.


                         Transmittal No. 24-39

     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 * $58.7 million.
       Other $2.4 million.
       Total $61.1 million.
       Funding Source: Foreign Military Financing.
       (iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or 
     Services under Consideration for Purchase: Foreign Military 
     Sales (FMS) case IS-B-VAT was below the congressional 
     notification threshold at $0.41 million ($0.37 million in 
     MDE) and included four hundred (400) M933A1 120mm High 
     Explosive (HE) mortar cartridges with M783 fuzes; 
     publications; and associated technical documentation. The 
     Government of Israel has requested the case be amended to 
     include an additional fifty thousand (50,000) M933A1 120mm HE 
     mortar cartridges with M783 fuzes. This amendment will cause 
     the case to exceed the notification threshold, and thus 
     notification of the entire case is required.
       The above notification requirements are combined as 
     follows:
       Major Defense Equipment (MDE):
       Fifty thousand four hundred (50,400) M933A1 120mm High 
     Explosive mortar cartridges with M783 fuzes.
       Non-MDE: Also included are publications; technical 
     documentation; U.S. Government and contractor engineering, 
     technical, and logistics support services; studies and 
     surveys; and other related elements of logistics and program 
     support.
       (iv) Military Department: Army (IS-B-VAT).
       (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--M933A1 120mm High Explosive Mortar Cartridges

       The Government of Israel has requested to buy fifty 
     thousand (50,000) M933A1 120mm High Explosive (HE) mortar 
     cartridges with M783 fuzes that will be added to a previously 
     implemented case whose value was under the congressional 
     notification threshold. The original FMS case, valued at 
     $0.41 million

[[Page S5922]]

     ($0.37 million in MDE), included four hundred (400) M933A1 
     120mm HE mortar cartridges with M783 fuzes. This notification 
     is for a combined total of fifty thousand four hundred 
     (50,400) M933A1 120mm HE mortar cartridges with M783 fuzes. 
     Also included are publications; technical documentation; U.S. 
     Government and contractor engineering, technical, and 
     logistics support services; studies and surveys; and other 
     related elements of logistics and program support. The 
     estimated total cost is $61.1 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.
       The proposed sale will improve Israel's capability to meet 
     current and future threats by improving the ability of the 
     Israeli Ground Forces to defend its borders, vital 
     infrastructure, and population centers. It will also increase 
     its interoperability with U.S. forces and conveys U.S. 
     commitment to Israel's security and armed forces 
     modernization. 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 contractor will be General Dynamics Ordnance 
     and Tactical Systems Inc., located in Quebec, Canada. 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. 24-39

     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 M933A1 is a standard Army 120mm mortar high 
     explosive projectile, capable of being fired from NATO-
     standard 120mm mortars in use around the world today. These 
     projectiles have steel bodies which are filled with 
     explosives, typically TNT.
       2. The M783 is a standard Army 120mm mortar fuze. Fuzes 
     cause the projectile to detonate at the target and are 
     attached to the projectile by the mortar crew just before 
     loading and firing. The M783 is a multi-function fuze, which 
     can be set to point detonate or delay.
       3. The highest level of classification of defense articles, 
     components, and services included in this potential sale is 
     UNCLASSIFIED.
       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 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.
       6. All defense articles and services listed in this 
     transmittal have been authorized for release and export to 
     Israel.

                          ____________________