[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 39 (Thursday, February 27, 2020)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1182-S1183]
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. 19-75 
     concerning the Navy's proposed Letter(s) of Offer and 
     Acceptance to the Government of the Netherlands for defense 
     articles and services estimated to cost $85 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.

[[Page S1183]]

  



                         Transmittal No. 19-75

     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 the Netherlands.
       (ii) Total Estimated Value:
       Major Defense Equipment* $75 million.
       Other $10 million.
       Total $85 million.
       (iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or 
     Services under Consideration for Purchase:
       Major Defense Equipment (MDE): Sixteen (16) MK-48 Mod 7 
     Advanced Technology (AT) Torpedo Conversion Kits.
       Non-MDE: Also included are spare parts, containers, 
     associated hardware, torpedo handling equipment, and cables; 
     U.S. Government and contractor engineering, technical, and 
     logistics support services; and other related elements of 
     logistics and program support.
       (iv) Military Department: Navy (NE-P-LHC A5).
       (v) Prior Related Cases, if any: NE-P-LHC.
       (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: February 25, 
     2020.
  *As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control Act.


                          POLICY JUSTIFICATION

               Netherlands--MK-48 Torpedo Conversion Kits

       The Government of the Netherlands has requested to buy 
     sixteen (16) MK-48 Mod 7 Advanced Technology (AT) torpedo 
     conversion kits. Also included are spare parts, containers, 
     associated hardware, torpedo handling equipment, and cables; 
     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 $85 million.
       This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and 
     national security of the United States by helping to improve 
     security of a NATO ally which is an important force for 
     political stability and economic progress in Northern Europe.
       The Netherlands desires to upgrade additional MK 48 Mod 4 
     torpedoes to the MK 48 Mod 7 AT model. They intend to use the 
     MK 48 Mod 7 AT torpedo on their Walrus Class submarines. The 
     Netherlands will have no difficulty absorbing this equipment 
     into its armed forces.
       The proposed sale of this equipment will not alter the 
     basic military balance in the region.
       The prime contractor will be Raytheon Company, Portsmouth, 
     RI. The Netherlands may require offset agreements in 
     connection with this potential sale. Any offset agreement 
     will be defined in negotiations between the Purchaser and the 
     prime contractor.
       Implementation of this proposed sale will not require the 
     assignment of any additional U.S. Government or contractor 
     representatives to the Netherlands. Travel of U.S. Government 
     or contractor representatives to the Netherlands on a 
     temporary basis for program technical support and management 
     oversight will be required.
       There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness 
     as a result of this proposed sale.


                         Transmittal No. 19-75

     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 Mod 7 configuration is the United States Navy's most 
     capable submarine launched torpedo. It has a new sonar 
     receiver that has a broader bandwidth capability than 
     previous versions, and also employs a new tactical processor 
     that has increased memory and throughput. The Mod 7AT 
     configuration has the same guidance and control system and 
     the same software as the Mod 7. However, it employs the Mod 
     4M afterbody which results in higher radiated noise.
       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 Netherlands can 
     provide substantially the same degree of protection for the 
     technology being released as the U.S. Government. This 
     proposed sustainment program is necessary to the furtherance 
     of 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 Netherlands.

                          ____________________