328. Memorandum From the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy (Iklé) to Secretary of Defense Weinberger1
SUBJECT
- UK Request for Vulcan/Phalanx Systems (S)—ACTION MEMORANDUM
Yesterday we received a formal request from the UK for six single-gun Vulcan Phalanx Systems. The Vulcan/Phalanx is a radar guided 20 mm gatling gun system for last ditch, close-in protection of ships against incoming missiles and aircraft. The British currently lack adequate close-in support. This shortcoming, coupled with the lack of long-range defenses, has resulted in British losses of two destroyers (including the Sheffield), several frigates and the transport ship Atlantic Conveyer to Argentine attacks in the Falklands theater.
On 14 May we provided a two gun Vulcan/Phalanx system to the British at a price of $9.3M.2 The UK will mount this system on the HMS Illustrious, one of their Harrier capable cruisers. The sale of any of the six additional systems would require Congressional notification under Section 36B of the Arms Export Control Act. Under this Section, we are required to notify the Vice President (President of the Senate), the Speaker of the House, and the Armed Forces Appropriations and Foreign Relations/Affairs Committees of both houses of Congress. This [Page 680] can be done on a classified basis, but we cannot be certain the request will not soon leak to the media.
Section 36B notification would entail a 15 day delay while awaiting Congressional approval. Thus far, the Congress has not pressed us for details concerning our materiel support for UK operations, keeping partisan politics out of the support process. Processing a request that falls within the provisions of Section 36B might well open a floodgate of interest.
On the other hand, Congressional action under Section 36B confirms our willingness to work within the Congressionally imposed restrictions. Furthermore, Vulcan/Phalanx is strictly a defensive system, and thus less likely to evoke an emotional response from potential critics of our policy. As a result of these conflicting factors, I recommend that we approve the request for the Vulcan/Phalanx systems but begin immediately to work with friendly Congressional leaders to ensure the information regarding the sale does not become public.3
- Source: Washington National Records Center, OSD Files, FRC 330–86–0042, UK 1982. Top Secret.↩
- Weinberger informed Nott of his support for the sale of the system to the United Kingdom during their May 6 meeting. See Document 233.↩
- Weinberger initialed his approval on June 9 and added the following notation: “Why do we have to notify Congress? Could we not sell them the 6 guns, one at a time?” The notation was also transcribed in an attached June 10 note from Cormack to Iklé. According to a June 16 correspondence report, Weinberger’s questions were “taken care of w/phone call from Dr. Iklé to SECDEF.” (Washington National Records Center, OSD Files, FRC 330–86–0042, UK 1982)↩
- Zakheim signed for Iklé above his typed signature.↩