[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.

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