[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 246 (Monday, December 23, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 70516-70518]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-27623]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Office of the Secretary

[Transmittal No. 19-28]


Arms Sales Notification

AGENCY: Defense Security Cooperation Agency, Department of Defense.

ACTION: Arms sales notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Defense is publishing the unclassified text 
of an arms sales notification.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Karma Job at [email protected] 
or (703) 697-8976.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This 36(b)(1) arms sales notification is 
published to fulfill the requirements of section 155 of Public Law 104-
164 dated July 21, 1996. The following is a copy of a letter to the 
Speaker of the

[[Page 70517]]

House of Representatives, Transmittal 19-28 with attached Policy 
Justification and Sensitivity of Technology.

    Dated: December 17, 2019.
Aaron T. Siegel,
Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.
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[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN23DE19.016

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[[Page 70518]]

Transmittal No. 19-28
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 *................  $37 million
Other....................................  $35 million
                                          ------------------------------
  TOTAL..................................  $72 million
 

    (iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or 
Services under Consideration for Purchase:
    Major Defense Equipment (MDE): Up to thirty-one (31) MK 54 All Up 
Round 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 fixed wing, torpedo spare parts, 
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 (KS-P-AMP)
    (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 Annex Attached
    (viii) Date Report Delivered to Congress: August 27, 2019

    * As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control Act.

POLICY JUSTIFICATION

Korea--MK 54 Lightweight Torpedoes

    The Republic of Korea (ROK) has requested to buy thirty-one (31) MK 
54 All Up Round lightweight torpedoes. Also included are torpedo 
containers, Recoverable Exercise Torpedoes (REXTORP) with containers, 
Fleet Exercise Section (FES) and fuel tanks, air launch accessories for 
fixed wing, torpedo spare parts, 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 program cost is $72 million.
    This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national 
security objectives of the United States by meeting the legitimate 
security and defense needs of one of the closest allies in the 
INDOPACOM Theater. The Republic of Korea is one of the major political 
and economic powers in East Asia and the Western Pacific and a key 
partner of the United States in ensuring peace and stability in that 
region. It is vital to U.S. national interests to assist the Republic 
of Korea in developing and maintaining a strong and ready self-defense 
capability.
    The Republic of Korea Navy intends to utilize MK 54 Lightweight 
Torpedoes on its P-8A aircraft. The ROK 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 Integrated Defense 
System, Portsmouth, Rhode Island. There are no known offset agreements 
proposed in connection with this potential sale. Any offset agreement 
will be defined in negotiations between the Purchaser and the prime 
contractor.
    Implementation of the proposed sale will not require the assignment 
of any additional U.S. Government or contractor representatives to the 
ROK. 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. 19-28
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 to the MK 46 Torpedo. The upgrade to the MK 54 entails 
replacement of the torpedo's sonar and guidance and control systems 
with more modern 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. The assembled 
MK 54 torpedo and several of its individual components are classified 
CONFIDENTIAL. The MK 54 operational software is classified as SECRET. 
The Republic of Korea has not requested nor will it be provided with 
the source code for the MK 54 operational software.
    2. 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.
    3. A determination has been made that the recipient government can 
provide substantially the same degree of protection for the technology 
being released as the U.S. Government. This sale supports the U.S. 
foreign policy and national security objectives as outlined in the 
Policy Justification.
    4. All defense articles and services listed in this transmittal 
have been authorized for release and export to the Republic of Korea.

[FR Doc. 2019-27623 Filed 12-20-19; 8:45 am]
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