80 FR 74094 - 36(b)(1) Arms Sales Notification

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Office of the Secretary

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 228 (November 27, 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 228 (Friday, November 27, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 74094-74096]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-30195]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Office of the Secretary

[Transmittal No. 15-51]


36(b)(1) Arms Sales Notification

AGENCY: Defense Security Cooperation Agency, Department of Defense.

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: Sarah A. Ragan or Heather N. Harwell, 
DSCA/LMO, (703) 604-1546/(703) 607-5339.
    The following is a copy of a letter to the Speaker of the House of 
Representatives, Transmittal 15-51 with attached Policy Justification 
and Sensitivity of Technology.

    Dated: November 23, 2015.
Aaron Siegel,
Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.
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Transmittal No. 15-51 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:

(U) Major Defense Equipment*            $ 365.0 million
(U) Other.............................  $ 15.0 million
                                       ---------------------------------
  (U) TOTAL...........................  $ 380.0 million
 

    (iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or 
Services under Consideration for Purchase: Major Defense Equipment 
(MDE) includes:

Three thousand two hundred and fifty (3250) GBU-31V1 (KMU-556 Joint 
Direct Attack Munitions (JDAM) kits)
Three thousand two hundred and fifty (3250) MK-84/BLU-117 bombs
Seven hundred and fifty (750) GBU-31V3 (KMU-557 JDAM kits)
Seven hundred and fifty (750) BLU-109 bombs
One thousand (1000) GBU-12 Paveway II Laser Guided bomb kits
One thousand and two (1002) MK-82/BLU-111 bombs
Four thousand two hundred and fifty (4,250) FMU-152 fuzes
Two hundred and sixteen (216) GBU-24 tail kits (BSU-84)

    This sale also includes non-MDE related munitions items (fuzes and 
bomb components), sustainment, and support.
    (iv) Military Department: USAF: AE-D-AAF
    (v) Prior Related Cases, if any:

FMS Case SAA $113M SEP 98, APR 00, MAY 01

[[Page 74096]]

FMS Case YAB $156M SEP 98, MAY 01
FMS Case YAC $874M SEP 98, MAY 01, DEC 07, DEC 09, JUN 11
FMS Case AAC $13M JUN 11
FMS Case AAD $11.8M JAN 15
FMS Case AAE $130M MAY15
    (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: 04 NOV 2015
    * As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control Act.

POLICY JUSTIFICATION

United Arab Emirates (UAE) Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAM), 
Sustainment and Support

    The United Arab Emirates requested approval to procure 3250 GBU-
31V1 (KMU-556 JDAM kit) with 3250 MK-84/BLU-117 bombs, 750 GBU-31V3 
(KMU-557 JDAM kit) with 750 BLU-109 bombs, 1000 GBU-12 with 1002 MK-82/
BLU-111 bombs, 4,250 FMU-152 fuzes, and 216 GBU-24 tail kits (BSU-84). 
The sale also includes non-MDE related munitions items (fuzes and bomb 
components), sustainment, and support. The estimated total case value 
is $380 million.
    This proposed sale contributes to the foreign policy and national 
security of the United States by helping the UAE remain an active 
member of the OPERATION INHERENT RESOLVE (OIR) coalition working to 
defeat the Islamic State in Iraq and Levant (ISIL) and as part of the 
Saudi-led coalition to restore the legitimate government in Yemen. 
These munitions will sustain the UAE's efforts and support a key 
partner that remains an important force for political stability and 
economic progress in the Middle East.
    The proposed sale provides the UAE additional precision guided 
munitions capability to meet the current threat. 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 was a valued partner and an active participant in OPERATION 
IRAQI FREEDOM (OIF), OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM (OEF), OPERATION 
UNIFIED PROTECTOR (OUP), and now is a valued partner in OIR coalition 
operations.
    The proposed sale will not alter the basic military balance in the 
region.
    The prime contractors will be determined during the contracting 
process. There are no known offset agreements proposed in connection 
with this potential sale.
    Implementation of this sale entails periodic Program Management 
Reviews in the United States or UAE. There are no additional U.S. 
Government or contractor representatives anticipated to be stationed in 
the UAE as a result of this potential sale.
    There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a 
result of this proposed sale.
Transmittal No. 15-51
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. GBU-31 Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) is a 2000-lb guidance 
tail kit that converts unguided free-fall bombs into accurate, Global 
Positioning System (GPS)-guided adverse weather ``smart'' munitions. 
With the addition of a new tail section that contains an inertial 
navigational system (INS) and a GPS guidance control unit, JDAM 
improves the accuracy of unguided, general-purpose (GP) bombs in any 
weather condition. The GBU-31V1 contains a KMU-556 JDAM tail, a general 
purpose 2000-lb BLU-117 or MK-84 bomb body and a fuse. The GBU-31V3 
contains a KMU-557 JDAM tail, a 2000-lb BLU-109 penetrator bomb body 
and a fuse. The highest classification for the JDAM, its components, 
and technical data is SECRET. In addition to the JDAM tail kit, access 
to accurate target coordinates, INS/GPS capability, and operational 
test and evaluation plan are essential for successful employment.
    2. GBU-12 is a 500-lb laser-guided ballistic bomb (LGB). 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 GP 
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 GBU-12 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 MK-82 or BLU-111 500-lb GP 
bomb body and a fuse. The overall weapon is CONFIDENTIAL.
    3. GBU-24 is a 2000-lb laser-guided ballistic bomb (LGB). 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 
GP 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 GBU-24 LGB consists of a laser guidance kit, a 
computer control group (CCG) and a warhead specific BSU-84 Air Foil 
Group (AFG), that attaches to the tail of a MK-84 or BLU-117 2000-lb GP 
bomb body. The overall weapon is SECRET.
    4. 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.
    5. A determination has been made that the recipient country can 
provide substantially the same degree of protection of sensitive 
technology being released as the U.S. Government. This sale is 
necessary in furtherance of U.S. foreign policy and national security 
objectives outlined in the Policy Justification. All defense articles 
and services listed in this transmittal have been authorized for 
release and export to the United Arab Emirates.
    6. This sale is necessary in furtherance of the U.S. foreign policy 
and national security objectives outlined in the Policy Justification. 
Moreover, the benefits to be derived from this sale, as outlined in the 
Policy Justification, outweigh the potential damage that could result 
if the sensitive technology were revealed to unauthorized persons.

[FR Doc. 2015-30195 Filed 11-25-15; 8:45 am]
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