[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 87 (Thursday, May 23, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3095-S3096]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
ARMS SALES NOTIFICATION
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 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. 19-32
concerning the Navy's proposed Letter(s) of Offer and
Acceptance to the Government of Canada for defense articles
and services estimated to cost $387 million. After this
letter is delivered to your office, we plan to issue a news
release to notify the public of this proposed sale.
Sincerely,
Charles W. Hooper,
Lieutenant General, USA, Director.
Enclosures.
Transmittal No. 19-32
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 Canada.
(ii) Total Estimated Value:
Major Defense Equipment * $288 million.
Other $99 million.
Total $387 million.
(iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or
Services under Consideration for Purchase:
Major Defense Equipment (MDE):
Four hundred twenty-five (425) MK 54 Lightweight Torpedo
Conversion Kits.
Non-MDE: Also included are torpedo containers, Recoverable
Exercise Torpedoes (REXTORP) with containers, Fleet Exercise
Section (FES) and fuel tanks, air launch accessories for
fixed wing, torpedo spare parts, training, publications,
support and test equipment, U.S. Government and contractor
engineering, technical, and logistics support services, and
other related elements of logistics and program support.
(iv) Military Department: Navy (CN-P-AMP).
(v) Prior Related Cases, if any: CN-P-APR.
(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: MAY 16, 2019.
*As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control
Act.
POLICY JUSTIFICATION
Canada--MK 54 Lightweight Torpedoes
The Government of Canada has requested to buy four hundred
twenty-five (425) MK 54 lightweight torpedo conversion kits.
Also included are torpedo containers, Recoverable Exercise
Torpedoes (REXTORP) with containers, Fleet Exercise Section
(FES) and fuel tanks, air launch accessories for fixed wing,
torpedo spare parts, training, publications, support and test
equipment, U.S. Government and contractor engineering,
technical, and logistics support services, and other related
elements of logistics and program support. The total
estimated program cost is $387 million.
This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and
national security objectives of the United States by helping
to improve the military capability of Canada, a NATO ally
that is an important force for ensuring political stability
and economic progress and a
[[Page S3096]]
contributor to military, peacekeeping and humanitarian
operations around the world.
Canada intends to upgrade its current inventory of MK 46
torpedoes to the MK 54 with the purchase of these kits. The
MK 54 torpedo is designed to be easily upgraded from the
existing MK 46 torpedo. Canada plans to utilize MK 54
Lightweight Torpedoes on its Royal Canadian Navy's Halifax
class ships, the Royal Canadian Air Force's CP-140 Aurora
Aircraft, and the CH-148 Maritime Helicopters. Canada 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 for the MK 54 Torpedo is Raytheon
Integrated Defense Systems, Portsmouth, Rhode Island. The
Government of Canada is expected to negotiate an offset
agreement with Raytheon, in accordance with Canada's
Industrial and Technological Benefits (ITB) Policy, before
signing the Letter of Offer and Acceptance (LOA).
Implementation of this proposed sale will not require the
assignment of additional U.S. Government or contractor
representatives to Canada. However, it is anticipated that
engineering and technical support services provided by the
U.S. Government may be required on an interim basis for
training and technical assistance.
There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness
as a result of this proposed sale.
Transmittal No. 19-32
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 MK 54 Torpedo is a conventional torpedo that can be
launched from surface ships, and rotary and fixed wing
aircraft. The MK 54 is an upgrade to the MK 46 Torpedo. The
upgrade to the MK 54 entails replacement of the torpedo's
sonar and guidance and control systems with modern
technology. The new guidance and control system uses a
mixture of commercial-off-the-shelf and custom-built
electronics. The warhead, fuel tank and propulsion system
from the MK 46 torpedo are re-used in the MK 54 configuration
with minor modifications. There is no sensitive technology in
the MK 54 or its support and test equipment. The assembled MK
54 torpedo and several of its individual components are
classified CONFIDENTIAL. The MK 54 operational software is
classified as SECRET. Canada has not requested nor will it be
provided with the source code for the MK 54 operational
software.
2. If a technologically advanced adversary were to obtain
knowledge of the specific hardware and software elements, the
information could be used to develop countermeasures or
equivalent systems which might reduce weapon system
effectiveness or be used in the development of a system with
similar or advanced capabilities.
3. A determination has been made that Canada can provide
substantially the same degree of protection for the
technology being released as the U.S. Government. This sale
supports the U.S. foreign policy and national security
objectives as outlined in the Policy Justification.
4. All defense articles and services listed in this
transmittal have been authorized for release and export to
Canada.
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