[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 202 (Tuesday, December 1, 2020)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7134-S7135]
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. 20-86 
     concerning the Navy's proposed Letter(s) of Offer and 
     Acceptance to the Republic of Korea for defense articles and 
     services estimated to cost $39 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.


                         Transmittal No. 20-86

     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: Republic of Korea.
       (ii) Total Estimated Value:
       Major Defense Equipment * $30 million.
       Other $9 million.
       Total $39 million.
       (iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or 
     Services under Consideration for Purchase:
       Major Defense Equipment (MDE):
       Two (2) MK 15 MOD 25 Phalanx Close-In Weapons System (CIWS) 
     Block 1B Baseline 2 (1B2) Systems
       Four thousand (4,000) Rounds, 20MM Cartridge API Linked
       Non-MDE: Also included are spare parts; other support 
     equipment; ammunition; books and other publications; 
     software; training; engineering technical assistance and 
     other technical assistance; and other related elements of 
     program and logistical support.
       (iv) Military Department: Navy (KS-P-LRH).
       (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

Republic of Korea--MK 15 MOD 25 Phalanx Close-In Weapons System (CIWS) 
                    Block 1B Baseline 2 (1B2) System

       The Republic of Korea has requested to buy two (2) MK 15 
     MOD 25 Phalanx Close-In Weapons System (CIWS) Block 1B 
     Baseline 2 (1B2) systems; and four thousand (4,000) rounds, 
     20MM cartridge API linked. Also included are spare parts; 
     other support equipment; ammunition; books and other 
     publications; software; training; engineering technical 
     assistance and other technical assistance; and other related 
     elements of program and logistical support. The estimated 
     total cost is $39 million.
       This proposed sale will support the foreign policy goals 
     and national security objectives of the United States by 
     improving the security of a Major Non-NATO Ally that is a 
     force for political stability and economic progress in the 
     Pacific region.
       The proposed sale will improve the Republic of Korea's 
     capability to meet current and future threats. Korea will use 
     the systems aboard its first KDX III Batch II Class ship to 
     provide it with effective means of detecting and defending 
     itself against incoming airborne threats. The Republic of 
     Korea 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 Missile and 
     Defense, Louisville, KY. 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 the Republic of Korea. However, U.S. 
     Government or contractor personnel in-country visits will be 
     required on a temporary basis in conjunction with program 
     technical oversight and support requirements, including 
     multiple trips by U.S. Government and contractor 
     representatives to participate in program and technical 
     reviews, as well as to provide training and maintenance 
     support in country, as required.
       There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness 
     as a result of this proposed sale.


                         Transmittal No. 20-86

     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 15 MOD 25 Phalanx Close-In Weapon System (CIWS) 
     consists of a rapid-fire computer-controlled radar and gun 
     system mounted on a turret designed to defeat anti-ship 
     missiles; small surface craft; low, slow aircraft; rockets 
     and mortars. The weapons system carries out search, 
     detection, target threat evaluation, tracking, firing and 
     kill loop fire control that uses advanced radar and computer 
     technology to locate, identify and direct a system of armor 
     piercing projectiles to the target. The Phalanx Block 1B 
     Baseline 2 (1B2) Radar Upgrade Kits converted the system's 
     radar from an analog to digital suite, and in doing so 
     addressed significant hardware obsolescence.
       2. The highest level of classification of defense articles, 
     components, and services included in this potential sale is 
     CONFIDENTIAL.
       3. 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.
       4. A determination has been made that the Republic of Korea 
     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 
     the Republic of Korea.

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