[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.
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