[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 142 (Monday, August 10, 2020)]
[Senate]
[Page S5366]
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. 20-41 
     concerning the Navy's proposed Letter(s) of Offer and 
     Acceptance to the Government of Belgium for defense articles 
     and services estimated to cost $33.3 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. 20-41

     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: The Government of Belgium.
       (ii) Total Estimated Value:
       Major Defense Equipment * $25.0 million.
       Other $8.3 million.
       Total $33.3 million.
       (iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or 
     Services under Consideration for Purchase:
       Major Defense Equipment (MDE):
       Twenty-nine (29) All Up Round MK 54 Lightweight Torpedo Mod 
     0.
       Non-MDE: Also included are two (2) Fleet Exercise Section 
     conversion kits, torpedo support equipment, training and 
     publications, U.S. Government and contractor engineering, 
     technical, and logistics support services, and other related 
     elements of logistics and program support.
       (iv) Military Department: Navy (BE-P-LBH).
       (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: None.
       (viii) Date Report Delivered to Congress: July 9, 2020.
       * As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control 
     Act.


                          POLICY JUSTIFICATION

               Belgium--MK 54 Lightweight Torpedoes (LWT)

       The Government of Belgium requests to buy twenty-nine (29) 
     All Up Round MK 54 LWT Mod 0. Also included are two (2) Fleet 
     Exercise Section conversion kits, torpedo support equipment, 
     training and publications, 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 $33.3 million.
       This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and 
     national security objectives of the United States by 
     improving the security of a NATO Ally which is an important 
     force for political stability and economic progress in 
     Europe.
       The Belgian Navy is phasing out its inventory of MK 46 
     torpedoes. The MK 54 will give them the ability to engage 
     submarines from its fleet of NH-90 helicopters and the new 
     generation of Multi-Mission Frigates. Belgium 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.
       Implementation of this proposed sale will not require the 
     assignment of any additional U.S. Government or contractor 
     representatives to Belgium; however, U.S. Government 
     Engineering and Technical Services may be required on an 
     interim basis for installations and integration.
       There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness 
     as a result of this proposed sale.


                         Transmittal No. 20-41

     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, helicopters, and fixed wing 
     aircraft. The MK 54 is an upgrade to the MK 46 Torpedo, which 
     is currently in-service in Belgium. The MK 54 replaces MK 
     46'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. Belgium has not 
     requested nor will it be provided with the source code for 
     the MK 54 operational software. The highest classification of 
     items to be transferred by this possible sale is SECRET.
       2. If a technologically advanced adversary were to obtain 
     knowledge of the hardware and software elements, the 
     information could be used to develop countermeasures or 
     equivalent systems which might reduce system effectiveness or 
     be used in the development of a system with similar or 
     advanced capabilities.
       3. A determination has been made that the Government of 
     Belgium 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.
       4. All defense articles and services listed in this 
     transmittal have been authorized for release and export to 
     Belgium.

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