[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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