[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.
____________________