[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 202 (Tuesday, December 1, 2020)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7131-S7132]
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. 20-52
concerning the Navy's proposed Letter(s) of Offer and
Acceptance to the Government of Brazil for defense articles
and services estimated to cost $70 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.
[[Page S7132]]
Transmittal No. 20-52
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: Government of Brazil.
(ii) Total Estimated Value:
Major Defense Equipment * $40 million.
Other $30 million.
Total $70 million.
(iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or
Services under Consideration for Purchase:
Major Defense Equipment (MOE): Twenty-two (22) MK 54
Conversion Kits--to Convert MK 46 Mod 5 A(S) Torpedoes to MK
54 Mod O 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
rotary wing, torpedo spare parts, propellant, lanyard start
assembly suspensions bands, thermal batteries, 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 (BR-P-GVU).
(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
Brazil--MK 54 Lightweight Torpedoes
The Government of Brazil has requested to buy twenty-two
(22) MK 54 conversion kits--to convert MK 46 Mod 5 A(S)
torpedoes to MK 54 Mod 0 lightweight torpedoes. Also included
are torpedo containers, Recoverable Exercise Torpedoes
(REXTORP) with containers, Fleet Exercise Section (FES) and
fuel tanks, air launch accessories for rotary wing, torpedo
spare parts, propellant, lanyard start assembly suspensions
bands, thermal batteries, 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 value is $70 million.
This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and
national security objectives of the United States by
improving the security of an important regional partner that
is an important force for political stability and economic
progress in South America.
The Government of Brazil intends to utilize MK 54
Lightweight Torpedoes on its Sikorsky S-70B ``Seahawk''
aircraft and surface ships.
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, RI. There are no known offset
agreements proposed in connection with this potential sale.
Implementation of this proposed sale will not require long-
term assignment of any additional U.S. Government or
contractor representatives to Brazil; 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. 20-52
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 from 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 specific hardware or 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 Brazil 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
Brazil.
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