[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 144 (Tuesday, September 10, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Page S5387]
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. 19-28
concerning the Navy's proposed Letter(s) of Offer and
Acceptance to the Republic of Korea for defense articles and
services estimated to cost $72 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,
Gregory M. Kausner
(For Charles W. Hooper, Lieutenant General, USA, Director).
Enclosures.
Transmittal No. 19-28
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: Republic of Korea.
(ii) Total Estimated Value:
Major Defense Equipment * $37 million.
Other $35 million.
Total $72 million.
(iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or
Services under Consideration for Purchase:
Major Defense Equipment (MDE):
Up to thirty-one(31) MK 54 All Up Round Lightweight
Torpedoes.
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 (KS-P-AMP).
(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 Annex
Attached.
(viii) Date Report Delivered to Congress: August 27, 2019.
* As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control
Act.
policy justification
Korea--MK 54 Lightweight Torpedoes
The Republic of Korea (ROK) has requested to buy thirty-one
(31) MK 54 All Up Round lightweight torpedoes. 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 $72 million.
This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and
national security objectives of the United States by meeting
the legitimate security and defense needs of one of the
closest allies in the INDOPACOM Theater. The Republic of
Korea is one of the major political and economic powers in
East Asia and the Western Pacific and a key partner of the
United States in ensuring peace and stability in that region.
It is vital to U.S. national interests to assist the Republic
of Korea in developing and maintaining a strong and ready
self-defense capability.
The Republic of Korea Navy intends to utilize MK 54
Lightweight Torpedoes on its P-8A aircraft. The ROK 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 Raytheon Integrated
Defense System, Portsmouth, Rhode Island. There are no known
offset agreements proposed in connection with this potential
sale. Any offset agreement will be defined in negotiations
between the Purchaser and the prime contractor.
Implementation of the proposed sale will not require the
assignment of any additional U.S. Government or contractor
representatives to the ROK. However, U.S. Government
Engineering and Technical Services 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. 19-28
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 more 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. The assembled MK 54 torpedo and
several of its individual components are classified
CONFIDENTIAL. The MK 54 operational software is classified as
SECRET. The Republic of Korea 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 that
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 the recipient
government 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
the Republic of Korea.
____________________