[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 10 (Tuesday, January 19, 2021)] [Senate] [Pages S55-S56] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] ARMS SALES NOTIFICATION Mr. RISCH. 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 available to the full Senate, I ask unanimous consent to have printed in the Record the notifications which have been received. If the cover letter references a classified annex, then such 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, Arlington, VA. 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. 20-65 concerning the Air Force's proposed Letter(s) of Offer and Acceptance to the Government of Egypt for defense articles and services estimated to cost $65.6 million. After this letter is delivered to your office, we plan to issue a news release to notify the public of this proposed sale. Heidi H. Grant, Director. Enclosures. Transmittal No. 20-65 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 Egypt. (ii) Total Estimated Value: Major-Defense Equipment * $56.8 million. Other $ 8.8 million. Total $65.6 milllon. (iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or Services under Consideration for Purchase: Major Defense Equipment (MDE): Twenty (20) AN/AAQ-33 Sniper Advanced Targeting Pods (ATPs). [[Page S56]] Non-MDE: Also included are pylons; shipping containers; spare and repair/return parts; ground handling equipment; publications and technical documentation; software and software support; personnel training; U.S. Government and contractor engineering, technical, and logistical support services; and other related elements or program and logistical support. (iv) Military Department: Air Force (EG-D-QFP). (v) Prior Related Cases, if any: EG-D-SAB. (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: December 28, 2020. *As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control Act. POLICY JUSTIFICATION Egypt--Sniper Advanced Targeting Pods (ATPs) The Government of Egypt has requested to buy twenty (20) AN/AAQ-33 Sniper ATPs. Also Included are pylons; shipping containers; spare and repajr/return parts; ground handling equipment; publications and technical documentation; software and software support; personnel training; U.S. Government and contractor engineering, technical, and logistical Support services; and other related elements of program and logistical support. The estimated total program cost is $65.6 million. This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security of the United States by helping to improve the security of a Major Non-NATO Ally country that continues to be an important strategic partner in the Middle East. The proposed sale will improve Egypt's capability and effectiveness to meet current and future threats by providing additional precision targeting capability to conduct border security and counterterrorism operations, The added precision strike capability will better enable Egypt to conduct operations while minimizing collateral damage, Egypt will have no difficulty absorbing the additional 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 Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company in Fort Worth, TX. 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 Egypt. There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a result of this proposed sale. Transmittal No. 20-65 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 AN/AAQ--33 SNIPER Pod is a multi-sensor, electro- optical targeting pod incorporating infrared, low-light television camera, laser range finder/target designator, and laser spot tracker. It is used to provide navigation and targeting for military aircraft in adverse weather and using precision-guided weapons such as laser-guided bombs. It also provides positive target identification, autonomous tracking, coordinate generation, and precise weapons guidance from extended standoff ranges, It offers much greater target resolution and imagery accuracy than previous systems. 2. The highest level of classification of information 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 system effectiveness or be used in the development of a system with similar or advanced capabilities. 4. A determination has been made that Government of Egypt 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 Egypt. ____________________