[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 202 (Tuesday, December 1, 2020)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7131-S7132]
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. 20-52 
     concerning the Navy's proposed Letter(s) of Offer and 
     Acceptance to the Government of Brazil for defense articles 
     and services estimated to cost $70 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,
                                                   Heidi H. Grant,
                                                         Director.
       Enclosures.

[[Page S7132]]

  



                         Transmittal No. 20-52

     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 Brazil.
       (ii) Total Estimated Value:
       Major Defense Equipment * $40 million.
       Other $30 million.
       Total $70 million.
       (iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or 
     Services under Consideration for Purchase:
       Major Defense Equipment (MOE): Twenty-two (22) MK 54 
     Conversion Kits--to Convert MK 46 Mod 5 A(S) Torpedoes to MK 
     54 Mod O 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 
     rotary wing, torpedo spare parts, propellant, lanyard start 
     assembly suspensions bands, thermal batteries, 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 (BR-P-GVU).
       (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 Attached 
     Annex.
       (viii) Date Report Delivered to Congress: December 1, 2020.
       * As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control 
     Act.


                          POLICY JUSTIFICATION

                  Brazil--MK 54 Lightweight Torpedoes

       The Government of Brazil has requested to buy twenty-two 
     (22) MK 54 conversion kits--to convert MK 46 Mod 5 A(S) 
     torpedoes to MK 54 Mod 0 lightweight torpedoes. Also included 
     are torpedo containers, Recoverable Exercise Torpedoes 
     (REXTORP) with containers, Fleet Exercise Section (FES) and 
     fuel tanks, air launch accessories for rotary wing, torpedo 
     spare parts, propellant, lanyard start assembly suspensions 
     bands, thermal batteries, 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 value is $70 million.
       This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and 
     national security objectives of the United States by 
     improving the security of an important regional partner that 
     is an important force for political stability and economic 
     progress in South America.
       The Government of Brazil intends to utilize MK 54 
     Lightweight Torpedoes on its Sikorsky S-70B ``Seahawk'' 
     aircraft and surface ships.
       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, RI. There are no known offset 
     agreements proposed in connection with this potential sale.
       Implementation of this proposed sale will not require long-
     term assignment of any additional U.S. Government or 
     contractor representatives to Brazil; 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. 20-52

     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 from the MK 46 Torpedo. The 
     upgrade to the MK 54 entails replacement of the torpedo's 
     sonar and guidance and control systems with modem 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.
       2. The highest level of classification of defense articles, 
     components, and services included in this potential sale is 
     SECRET.
       3. If a technologically advanced adversary were to obtain 
     knowledge of the specific hardware or 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.
       4. A determination has been made that Brazil 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.
       5. All defense articles and services listed in this 
     transmittal have been authorized for release and export to 
     Brazil.

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