[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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