Turkey to Buy MK-54 Lightweight All-Up Round Warshot Torpedoes

US Defense Security Cooperation Agency, WASHINGTON: The Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress of a possible Foreign Military Sale to Turkey of MK-54 Lightweight All-Up-Round Warshot Torpedoes as well as associated equipment and services. 
 
The total value, if all options are exercised, could be as high as $105 million. 
 
The Government of Turkey has requested a possible sale of 100 MK-54 Lightweight All-Up-Round Warshot Torpedoes, 50 containers, required equipment platform and auxiliary upgrades and modifications, kits, support equipment, exercise hardware, maintenance facility upgrades, software development/integration, test sets and support equipment, spare and repair parts, publications and technical data, maintenance, training equipment, U.S. Government (USG) and contractor representatives, contractor engineering and technical support services, and other related elements of logistics support. The estimated cost is $105 million. 
 
Turkey is a political and economic power in Europe and the eastern Mediterranean, and a partner of the United States in ensuring peace and stability in those regions. It is vital to the U.S. national interest to assist our North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) ally in developing and maintaining a strong and ready self-defense capability that will contribute to an acceptable military balance in the area. This proposed sale is consistent with those objectives. 
 
The proposed sale of torpedoes will materially assist the Turkish Naval Forces Command (TNFC) in NATO, United Nations, and coalition operations such as United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon and BLACKSEAFOR in the Black Sea and Eastern Mediterranean regions. 
 
Turkey intends to use the MK-54 torpedo on numerous platforms including Class Ship Frigates, SH 70B Sea Hawk Helicopters, and Sea Patrol Aircraft already in-country. The Turkish Naval Forces Command has significant experience with modern weapon systems, particularly the MK-46 Mod 5A(S) torpedo, the direct predecessor to the MK-54 and a torpedo of similar complexity and capability. 
 
The MK-54 torpedo was designed to be easily integrated into the upgrade path of the MK-46 torpedo and uses the same maintenance/support equipment and infrastructure with minimal upgrades. Turkey maintains a robust MK-46 program, which it intends to upgrade to support the MK-54 torpedo. Accordingly, the TNFC will be capable of integrating, employing, and maintaining the MK-54 torpedo. The torpedo will be provided in accordance with, and subject to the limitation on use and transfer provided under the Arms Export Control Act, as amended, and as embodied in the Letter of Offer and Acceptance. 
 
This proposed sale will not adversely affect either the military balance in the region or U.S. efforts to encourage a negotiated settlement of the Cyprus question. 
 
The prime contractor will be Raytheon Company Integrated Defense Systems of Keyport, Washington. Although generally the purchaser requires offsets, at this time, there are no known offset agreements proposed in connection with this potential sale. 
 
Implementation of this proposed sale will require assignment of U.S. Government and contractor representatives to Turkey on a temporary basis for program technical/management oversight and support. 
 
There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a result of this proposed sale. 
 
This notice of a potential sale is required by law; it does not mean that the sale has been concluded.