[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 27 (Monday, February 10, 2025)]
[Senate]
[Pages S816-S817]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
ARMS SALES NOTIFICATIONS
Mr. RISCH. 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. James E. Risch,
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. 24-104,
concerning the Army's proposed Letter(s) of Offer and
Acceptance to the Government of Israel for defense articles
and services estimated to cost $660 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. 24-104
Notice of Proposed Issuance of Letter of Offer Pursuant to
Section 36(b)(1) of the Arms Export Control Act
(i) Prospective Purchaser: Government of Israel.
(ii) Total Estimated Value:
Major Defense Equipment* $648 million.
Other $12 million.
Total $660 million.
Funding Source: Foreign Military Financing.
(iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or
Services under Consideration for Purchase:
Major Defense Equipment (MDE):
Three thousand (3,000) AGM-114 Hellfire Air-to-Ground
Missiles, to include one or any
[[Page S817]]
combination of the R3, F, F/A, K1, K1A, K2, K3, K3A, KA, N,
N3, and/or R variants.
Non-Major Defense Equipment: The following non-MDE items
will also be included: support and test equipment;
integration and test support; spare and repair parts;
software delivery and support; publications and technical
documentation; personnel training and training equipment;
U.S. Government and contractor engineering; technical and
logistics support services; storage; and other related
elements of logistics and program support.
(iv) Military Department: Army (IS-B-UCJ).
(v) Prior Related Cases, if any: IS-B-UBV, IS-B-ZWX, IS-B-
ZVJ.
(vi) Sales Commission, Fee, etc., Paid, Offered, or Agreed
to be Paid: None known at this time.
(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: February 7, 2025.
*As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export
Control Act.
POLICY JUSTIFICATION
Israel--AGM-114 Hellfire Missiles
The Government of Israel has requested to buy three
thousand (3,000) AGM-114 Hellfire Air-to-Ground Missiles, to
include one or any combination of the R3, F, F/A, K1, K1A,
K2, K3, K3A, KA, N, N3, and/or R variants. The following non-
MDE items will also be included: support and test equipment;
integration and test support; spare and repair parts;
software delivery and support; publications and technical
documentation; personnel training and training equipment;
U.S. Government and contractor engineering; technical and
logistics support services; storage; and other related
elements of logistics and program support. The estimated
total cost is $660 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 Air Force to defend Israel's borders, vital
infrastructure, and population centers. This sale will
increase 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 the Lockheed Martin
Corporation, located in Troy, AL. At this time, the U.S.
Government is not aware of any offset agreement proposed in
connection with this potential sale. Any offset agreement
will be defined in negotiations between the purchaser and the
contractor.
Implementation of this proposed sale will not require the
assignment of any additional U.S. Government or contractor
representatives to Israel. The only additional U.S. military
support required would be Technical Assistance Field Team
visits during training phases.
There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness
as a result of this proposed sale.
TRANSMITTAL NO. 24-104
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 AGM-114 is an air-to-surface missile. The Hellfire
Missile provides precision striking power against light
armored targets, thin skinned vehicles, urban structures,
bunkers, caves and personnel.
2. The highest level of classification of defense articles,
components, and services included in this potential sale is
SECRET.
3. 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 effectiveness or be used in the
development of a system with similar or advanced
capabilities.
4. A determination has been made that the Government of
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.
5. All defense articles and services listed in this
transmittal have been authorized for release and export to
the Government of Israel.
____________________