[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 150 (Wednesday, September 25, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6417-S6418]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
ARMS SALES NOTIFICATIONS
Mr. CARDIN. Madam 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)(l) ofthe Arms Export Control Act, as
amended, we are forwarding herewith Transmittal No. 24-72,
concerning the Army's proposed Letter(s) of Offer and
Acceptance to the Government of Bulgaria for defense articles
and services estimated to cost $114 million. We will issue a
news release to notify the public of this proposed sale upon
delivery of this letter to your office.
Sincerely,
Michael F. Miller,
Director.
Enclosures.
transmittal No. 24-72
Notice of Proposed Issuance of Letter of Offer Pursuant to
Section 36(b)(l) of the Arms Export Control Act, as
Amended
(i) Prospective Purchaser: Government of Bulgaria.
(ii) Total Estimated Value:
Major Defense Equipment * $79 million.
Other $35 million.
Total $114 million.
Funding Source: National Funds.
(iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or
Services under Consideration for Purchase:
Major Defense Equipment (MDE):
[[Page S6418]]
Two hundred eighteen (218) Javelin FGM-l48F missiles
(includes four (4) fly-to-buy missiles).
One hundred seven (107) Javelin Lightweight Command Launch
Units (LWCLU).
Non-Major Defense Equipment: The following non-MDE items
will also be included: Javelin LWCLU Basic Skills Trainers
(BST); Javelin Outdoor Trainers (JOT); Battery Coolant Units
(BCUs); System Integration and Check Out (SICO); lifecycle
support; Javelin Restricted Interactive Electronic Technical
Manual (IETM); Javelin operator manuals; tools; Javelin
gunner training; Ammunition Technical Officer (ATO) training;
Javelin maintenance training; technical assistance; other
associated equipment and services; and other related elements
of logistics and program support.
(iv) Military Department: Army (BU-B-UCQ).
(v) Prior Related Cases, if any: BU-B-UCP, BU-B-UCS.
(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: September 20,
2024.
* As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export
Control Act.
policy justification
Bulgaria--FGM-l48F Javelin Missiles
The Government of Bulgaria has requested to buy two hundred
eighteen (218) Javelin FGM-l48F missiles (includes four (4)
fly-to-buy missiles) and one hundred seven (107) Javelin
Lightweight Command Launch Units (LWCLU). Also included are
Javelin LWCLU Basic Skills Trainers (BST); Javelin Outdoor
Trainers (JOT); Battery Coolant Units (BCUs); System
Integration and Check Out (SICO); lifecycle support; Javelin
Restricted Interactive Electronic Technical Manual (IETM);
Javelin operator manuals; tools; Javelin gunner training;
Ammunition Technical Officer (ATO) training; Javelin
maintenance training; technical assistance; other associated
equipment and services; and other related elements of
logistics and program support. The estimated total cost is
$114 million.
This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and
national security objectives of the United States by helping
to improve the security of a NATO Ally that is an important
force for political and economic stability in Europe.
The proposed sale will improve Bulgaria's long-term defense
capacity to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity
and to meet its national defense requirements. Bulgaria 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 prime contractors will be the Javelin Joint Venture
between Lockheed Martin, located in Orlando, FL, and RTX
Corporation, located in Tucson, AZ. There are no known offset
agreements in connection with this potential sale.
Implementation of this proposed sale will not require the
assignment of U.S. Government or contractor representatives
to Bulgaria.
There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness
as a result of this proposed sale.
transmittal no. 24-72
Notice of Proposed Issuance of Letter of Offer Pursuant to
Section 36(b)(l) of the Arms Export Control Act
Annex Item No. vii
(vii) Sensitivity of Technology:
1. The Javelin Weapon System is a medium-range, man
portable, shoulder-launched, fire and forget anti-tank system
for infantry, scouts, and combat engineers. It may also be
mounted on a variety of platforms including vehicles,
aircraft, and watercraft. The system weighs 49.5 pounds and
has a maximum range in excess of 2,500 meters. The system is
highly lethal against tanks and other systems with
conventional and reactive armors. The system possesses a
secondary capability against bunkers.
2. Javelin's key technical feature is the use of fire-and-
forget technology which allows the gunner to fire and
immediately relocate or take cover. Additional special
features are the top attack and direct fire modes, an
advanced tandem warhead and imaging infrared seeker, target
lock-on before launch, and the capability for soft launch
from enclosures or covered fighting positions. The Javelin
missile also has a minimum smoke motor that decreases its
visibility and chance of detection on the battlefield.
3. The Javelin Weapon System is comprised of two major
tactical components, the reusable Light Weight Command Launch
Unit (LWCLU) and a missile contained in a disposable launch
tube assembly. The LWCLU incorporates an integrated day-night
sight that provides target engagement capability in adverse
weather and countermeasure environments. The LWCLU may also
be used in a stand-alone mode for battlefield surveillance
and target detection. The LWCLU's thermal sight is a 3rd
generation Forward Looking Infrared (FLIR) sensor. To
facilitate initial loading and subsequent updating of
software, all on-board missile software is uploaded via the
LWCLU after mating and prior to launch.
4. The missile is autonomously guided to the target using
an imaging infrared seeker and adaptive correlation tracking
algorithms. This allows the gunner to take cover or reload
and engage another target after firing a missile. The missile
has an advanced tandem warhead and can be used in either the
top attack or direct fire modes (for targets under cover). An
onboard flight computer guides the missile to the selected
target.
5. The highest level of classification of defense articles,
components, and services included in this potential sale is
SECRET.
6. If a technologically advanced adversary obtains
knowledge of the specific hardware and software elements, the
information could be used to develop countermeasures or
equivalent systems that might reduce weapon system
effectiveness or be used in the development of a system with
similar or advanced capabilities.
7. A determination has been made that Bulgaria can provide
substantially the same degree of protection for the sensitive
technology being released as the U.S. Government. This
proposed sale is necessary to further the U.S. foreign policy
and national security objectives outlined in the Policy
Justification.
8. All defense articles and services listed on this
transmittal are authorized for release and export to the
Government of Bulgaria.
____________________