[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 118 (Monday, July 18, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3331-S3332]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
ARMS SALES NOTIFICATION
Mr. MENENDEZ. 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,
Washington, DC, July 15, 2022.
Hon. Robert Menendez,
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. 22-43,
concerning the Navy's proposed Letter(s) of Offer and
Acceptance to the Republic of Korea for defense articles and
services estimated to cost $130 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,
James A. Hursch,
Director.
Enclosures.
Transmittal No. 22-43
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 * $44 million.
Other $86 million.
Total $130 million.
(iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or
Services under Consideration for Purchase:
Major Defense Equipment (MDE):
Thirty-one (31) MK 54 All Up Round Lightweight Torpedoes.
Non-MDE: Also included is Recoverable Exercise Torpedo
(REXTORP); Storage and Issue (S&I) facility; air launch
accessories for rotary wing; classified and unclassified
torpedo spare parts; torpedo containers; torpedo support
equipment to include test equipment and tools; torpedo
support services; classified and unclassified books and other
publications; other technical assistance to include technical
support, technical program management, infrastructure
support, test equipment sustainment, exercise firing
assistance, contract management, and initial Follow-on-
Technical Support (FOTS); return and repair support; torpedo
training; and other related elements of logistical and
program support.
[[Page S3332]]
(iv) Military Department: Navy (KS-P-ANF).
(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: July 15, 2022.
* As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control
Act.
POLICY JUSTIFICATION
Korea--MK 54 Lightweight Torpedoes
The Republic of Korea (ROK) requests to buy thirty-one (31)
MK 54 All Up Round Lightweight Torpedoes. Also included is
Recoverable Exercise Torpedo (REXTORP); Storage and Issue
(S&I) facility; air launch accessories for rotary wing;
classified and unclassified torpedo spare parts; torpedo
containers; torpedo support equipment to include test
equipment and tools; torpedo support services; classified and
unclassified books and other publications; other technical
assistance to include technical support, technical program
management, infrastructure support, test equipment
sustainment, exercise firing assistance, contract management,
and initial Follow-on-Technical Support (FOTS); return and
repair support; torpedo training; and other related elements
of logistical and program support. The estimated total
program cost is $130 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 ally that is a force for
political stability and economic progress in the Indo-Pacific
region.
The proposed sale will improve the ROK's capability to meet
current and future threats by defending its homeland and U.S.
personnel stationed there. The ROK will have no difficulty
absorbing this equipment into its armed forces. Korea intends
to utilize the MK 54 Lightweight Torpedoes on their MH-60R
aircraft.
The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not
alter the basic military balance in the region.
The principal contractor will be determined upon contract
award.
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 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. 22-43
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, rotary and fixed wing aircrafts.
The MK 54 is an upgrade to 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 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.
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.
____________________