80 FR 33493 - 36(b)(1) Arms Sales Notification

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Office of the Secretary

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 113 (June 12, 2015)

The Department of Defense is publishing the unclassified text of a section 36(b)(1) arms sales notification. This is published to fulfill the requirements of section 155 of Public Law 104-164 dated July 21, 1996.

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 113 (Friday, June 12, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33493-33495]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-14406]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Office of the Secretary

[Transmittal No. 15-14]


36(b)(1) Arms Sales Notification

AGENCY: Department of Defense, Defense Security Cooperation Agency.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Defense is publishing the unclassified text 
of a section 36(b)(1) arms sales notification. This is published to 
fulfill the requirements of section 155 of Public Law 104-164 dated 
July 21, 1996.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. B. English, DSCA/DBO/CFM, (703) 
601-3740.
    The following is a copy of a letter to the Speaker of the House of 
Representatives, Transmittal 15-14 with attached transmittal, policy 
justification, and Sensitivity of Technology.

    Dated: June 9, 2015.
Aaron Siegel,
Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.

[[Page 33494]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN12JN15.105

Transmittal No. 15-14
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: United Arab Emirates
    (ii) Total Estimated Value:

Major Defense Equipment *...............................    $100 million
Other...................................................    $ 30 million
                                                         ---------------
Total...................................................    $130 million
 

    (iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or 
Services under Consideration for Purchase: 500 GBU-31B/B(V)1 (MK-84/
BLU-117) bombs, 500 GBU-31B/B(V)3 (BLU-109) bombs, and 600 GBU-12 (MK-
82/BLU-111) bombs, containers, fuzes, spare and repair parts, support 
equipment, publications and technical documentation, personnel training 
and training equipment, U.S. Government and contractor logistics and 
technical support services, and other related elements of logistics 
support.
    (iv) Military Department: USAF (AAE)
    (v) Prior Related Cases, if any:
    FMS case SAA-$114M-24Aug00
    FMS case YAB-$156M-31Aug02
    FMS case YAC-$874M-4Mar08
    FMS case AAC-$14M-8Jun11
    FMS case AAD-$12M-30Jan15
    (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

[[Page 33495]]

    (viii) Date Report Delivered to Congress: 29 MAY 2015
    * As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control Act.

POLICY JUSTIFICATION

United Arab Emirates (UAE)--Guided Bomb Units (GBU-31s and GBU-12s)

    The Government of the United Arab Emirates has requested a possible 
sale of 500 GBU-31B/B(V)1 (MK-84/BLU-117) bombs, 500 GBU-31B/B(V)3 
(BLU-109) bombs, and 600 GBU-12 (MK-82/BLU-111) bombs, containers, 
fuzes, spare and repair parts, support equipment, publications and 
technical documentation, personnel training and training equipment, 
U.S. Government and contractor logistics and technical support 
services, and other related elements of logistics support. The 
estimated cost is $130 million.
    This proposed sale will contribute to the foreign policy and 
national security of the United States by helping a strategic partner 
which has been, and continues to be, an important force for political 
stability and economic progress in the Middle East.
    The proposed sale will provide the UAE with additional precision 
guided munitions capability to meet the current threat represented by 
the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant, and Houthi aggression in 
Yemen. The UAE continues to provide host-nation support of vital U.S. 
forces stationed at Al Dhafra Air Base and plays a vital role in 
supporting U.S. regional interests. The UAE has proven to be a valued 
partner and an active participant in coalition operations. The UAE will 
have no difficulty absorbing these additional munitions into its armed 
forces.
    The proposed sale of these munitions will not alter the basic 
military balance in the region.
    The principal contractors will be The Boeing Company in Chicago, 
Illinois; and Raytheon Missile Systems in Tucson, Arizona. There are no 
known offset agreements proposed in connection with this potential 
sale.
    Implementation of this sale will not require any additional U.S. 
Government or contractor representatives' in the UAE. However, periodic 
travel will be required on a temporary basis for program reviews and 
technical support.
    There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a 
result of this sale.
Transmittal No. 15-14
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 GBU-31 (2000 lb) Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) is a 
guidance tail kit that converts unguided free-fall bombs into accurate, 
GPS guided adverse weather ``smart'' munitions. With the addition of a 
new tail section that contains an inertial navigational system and a 
global positioning system guidance control unit, JDAM improves the 
accuracy of unguided, general-purpose bombs in any weather condition. 
JDAM can be launched from very low to very high altitudes in a dive, 
toss and loft, or in straight and level flight with an on-axis or off-
axis delivery. JDAM enables multiple weapons to be directed against 
single or multiple targets on a single pass. The GBU-31 V1 contains the 
standard BLU-117, Mk-84 bomb body. The GBU-31 V3 contains the BLU-109 
penetrator bomb body. The highest classification for the JDAM, its 
components, and technical data is Secret. Weapon accuracy is dependent 
on target coordinates and present position as entered into the guidance 
control unit. After weapon release, movable tail fins guide the weapon 
to the target coordinates. In addition to the tail kit, other elements 
in the overall system that are essential for successful employment 
include:
    a. Access to accurate target coordinates
    b. INS/GPS capability
    c. Operational Test and Evaluation Plan.
    2. The Guided Bomb Unit (GBU-12) is a laser-guided ballistic bomb 
(LGB) based on the Mk 82 500-lb general purpose bomb. The LGB is a 
maneuverable, free-fall weapon that guides to a spot of laser energy 
reflected off of the target. The LGB is delivered like a normal general 
purpose warhead and the semi-active guidance corrects for many of the 
normal errors inherent in any delivery system. Laser designation for 
the weapon can be provided by a variety of laser target markers or 
designators. The laser seeker allows the user to select a unique code 
for use in the multi-laser environment and reduce the probability of 
interference among multiple weapons. The LGB consists of a laser 
guidance kit, a computer control group (CCG) and a warhead specific Air 
Foil Group (AFG) that attach to the nose and tail of the Mk 82. The 
overall classification of the weapon is Confidential.
    3. If a technologically advanced adversary were to obtain knowledge 
of the specific hardware and software elements, the information could 
be used to develop countermeasures which 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 the recipient country can 
provide 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 United Arab 
Emirates.

[FR Doc. 2015-14406 Filed 6-11-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 5001-06-P