80 FR 76951 - 36(b)(1) Arms Sales Notification

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Office of the Secretary

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 238 (December 11, 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 238 (Friday, December 11, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 76951-76954]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-31272]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Office of the Secretary

[Transmittal No. 15-57]


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 15-57 with attached Policy Justification 
and Sensitivity of Technology.

    Dated: December 8, 2015.
Aaron Siegel,
Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.
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Transmittal No. 15-57
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 Saudi Arabia
    (ii) Total Estimated Value:

Major Defense Equipment*.................  $1.10 billiion
Other....................................  $.19 billion
                                          ------------------------------
  Total..................................  $1.29 billion
 

    (iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or 
Services under Consideration for Purchase:
    Major Defense Equipment (MDE) includes:
One thousand (1000) GBU-10 Paveway II Laser Guided Bombs (LGBs)
Two thousand, three hundred (2,300) BLU-117/MK-84 2000lb General 
Purpose (GP) Bombs
Four thousand twenty (4,020) GBU-12 Paveway II LGBs
Eight thousand twenty (8,020) BLU-111/MK-82 500lb GP Bombs
One thousand, one hundred (1,100) GBU-24 Paveway III LGBs
One thousand, five hundred (1,500) BLU-109 2000lb Penetrator Warheads
Four hundred (400) GBU-31(V1) KMU-556 Joint Direct Attack Munitions 
(JDAM) tail kits
One thousand (1,000) GBU-31(V3) KMU-557 JDAM tail kits
Three thousand (3,000) GBU-38 KMU-572 JDAM tail kits

[[Page 76953]]

Two thousand (2,000) GBU-48 Enhanced Paveway II, dual mode Global 
Positioning System (GPS)/LGB with the MXU-667 Airfoil and the MAU-169L/
B Computer Control Group (CCG) Dual mode
Two thousand (2,000) BLU-110/MK-83 1000lb GP Bombs
Five hundred (500) GBU-54 KMU-572 Laser JDAM tail kits, dual mode GPS/
LGB with the MXU-667 Airfoil and the MAU-169L/B CCG Dual mode
Three hundred (300) GBU-56 KMU 556 Laser JDAM tail kits, dual mode GPS/
LGB with the MXU-667 Airfoil and the MAU-169L/B CCG Dual mode
Ten thousand two hundred (10,200) FMU-152 Fuzes

    This request also includes the following Non-MDE items and 
services: procurement of bomb equipment components such as adaptors, 
nose plugs, fusing mechanisms, swivels, support links and connections; 
associated support equipment; publications, such as technical orders, 
and system manuals; training; engineering and technical support; 
transportation (to include special airlift support); program 
management; and other administrative support and related services.
    (iv) Military Department: USAF (X7-D-ACI, X7-D-ACJ, X7-D-ACQ)
    (v) Prior Related Cases, if any:

FMS Case AAI
FMS Case AAM
FMS Case AJX
FMS Case AAP
FMS Case AJO
FMS Case SAO $3.85-billion, CN 10-43
FMS Case SAP $8.31-billion, CN 10-43
FMS Case SRC $8.05-billion, CN 92-42, 98-36, 00-63
FMS Case YPW $ $57.2-million, CN 84-23, 92-42

    (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: 13 NOV 2015
    *As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control Act.

POLICY JUSTIFICATION

The Government of Saudi Arabia--Air-to-Ground Munitions

    The Government of Saudi Arabia requested approval to procure the 
following:
    Major Defense Equipment (MDE) includes:

One thousand (1000) GBU-10 Paveway II Laser Guided Bombs (LGBs)
Two thousand, three hundred (2,300) BLU-117/MK-84 2000lb General 
Purpose (GP) Bombs
Four thousand twenty (4,020) GBU-12 Paveway II LGBs
Eight thousand twenty (8,020) BLU-111/MK-82 500lb GP Bombs
One thousand, one hundred (1,100) GBU-24 Paveway III LGBs
One thousand, five hundred (1,500) BLU-109 2000lb Penetrator Warheads
Four hundred (400) GBU-31(V1) KMU-556 Joint Direct Attack Munitions 
(JDAM) tail kits
One thousand (1,000) GBU-31(V3) KMU-557 JDAM tail kits
Three thousand (3,000) GBU-38 KMU-572 JDAM tail kits
Two thousand (2,000) GBU-48 Enhanced Paveway II, dual mode Global 
Positioning System (GPS)/LGB with the MXU-667 Airfoil and the MAU-169L/
B Computer Control Group (CCG) Dual mode
Two thousand (2,000) BLU-110/MK-83 1000lb GP Bombs
Five hundred (500) GBU-54 KMU-572 Laser JDAM tail kits, dual mode GPS/
LGB with the MXU-667 Airfoil and the MAU-169L/B CCG Dual mode
Three hundred (300) GBU-56 KMU 556 Laser JDAM tail kits, dual mode GPS/
LGB with the MXU-667 Airfoil and the MAU-169L/B CCG Dual mode
Ten thousand two hundred (10,200) FMU-152 Fuzes

    This request also includes the following Non-MDE items and 
services: procurement of bomb equipment components such as adaptors, 
nose plugs, fusing mechanisms, swivels, support links and connections; 
associated support equipment; publications, such as technical orders, 
and system manuals; training; engineering and technical support; 
transportation (to include special airlift support); program 
management; and other administrative support and related services. The 
total estimated MDE value is $1.10 billion, and the estimated total 
overall value is $1.29 billion.
    The purchase replenishes the Royal Saudi Air Force's (RSAF) current 
weapons supplies, which are becoming depleted due to the high 
operational tempo in multiple counter-terrorism operations. The 
purchase of these munitions rebuilds war reserves and provides options 
for future contingencies.
    The RSAF will have no issues fielding, supporting, and employing 
these munitions.
    The proposed sale augments Saudi Arabia's capability to meet 
current and future threats from potential adversaries during combat 
operations. Providing these defense articles supports Saudi Arabian 
defense missions and promotes stability in the region.
    This acquisition will help sustain strong military-to-military 
relations between the United States and Saudi Arabia, improve 
operational interoperability with the United States, and enable Saudi 
Arabia to meet regional threats and safeguard the world's largest oil 
reserves.
    This acquisition contributes to the foreign policy and national 
security of the United States by increasing the security of an 
important partner that continues to be a significant force for 
political stability and economic progress in the Middle East. 
Sustaining Saudi military capabilities deters hostile actors, increases 
U.S.-Saudi military interoperability, and has a positive impact on the 
stability of the global economy. This acquisition also directly conveys 
U.S. commitment to the RSAF's current and future ability to sustain 
combat operations.
    The prime contractor will be determined by competition. There are 
no known offset agreements proposed in connection with this potential 
sale.
    There is no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a result of 
this proposed sale.
Transmittal No. 15-57
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-10 Paveway II Laser Guided 2000-lb bombs and Paveway II 
Laser Guided GBU-12 500-lb munitions use general purpose (GP) bombs 
bodies that are fitted with the MXU-651/650 airfoil and the MAU-169 L/B 
Computer Control Group (CCG) to convert them to Laser Guided Bombs 
(LGBs). 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. The hardware is 
UNCLASSIFIED. Information revealing the probability of destroying 
common/unspecified targets, the number of simultaneous lasers the laser 
seeker head can discriminate, and data on the radar/infra-red frequency 
is classified CONFIDENTIAL.
    2. GBU-31(VI) 2000-lb/GBU-38 500-lb Joint Direct Attack Munitions 
(JDAMs) are general purpose bombs fitted with an FMU-152A/B fuze and a 
KMU-556B/B (KMU-572B/B) guidance

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tail kit that converts unguided free-fall bombs into accurate, all 
weather, Global Positioning System (GPS) guided ``smart'' munitions. 
Information revealing target designation tactics and associated 
aircraft maneuvers, the probability of destroying specific/peculiar 
targets, vulnerabilities regarding countermeasures and the 
electromagnetic environment is classified SECRET. Information revealing 
the probability of destroying common/unspecified targets is classified 
CONFIDENTIAL.
    3. GBU-31(V3) Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAMs) are 2000-lb 
JDAM equipped with the BLU-109 C/B forged steel penetrator warhead. The 
bomb body is approximately twice as thick as a typical 2000-lb warhead. 
This hardened case, along with a solid nose, allows it to penetrate 
hardened targets. All other technical details and risks are identical 
to the GBU-31(V1) above.
    4. The GBU-24 Paveway III (PWIII) is a 2000-lb laser-guided 
munition that can be employed at high, medium and low altitudes. It 
utilizes the FMU-139A/B Fuze, BSU-84 airfoil and WGU-43C/B guidance 
control unit (GCU). Both the MK-84 conventional warhead and the BLU-109 
penetrating warhead can be utilized, similar to GBU-31(V1) and GBU-
31(V3). Design improvements over versions include proportional 
navigation, increased terminal accuracy, off-axis release envelopes, 
trajectory shaping, and target reacquisition capability. Information 
revealing target designation tactics and associated aircraft maneuvers, 
the probability of destroying specific/peculiar targets, 
vulnerabilities regarding countermeasures and the electromagnetic 
environment is classified SECRET. Information revealing test 
boundaries, operational envelop and release points, the probability of 
destroying common/unspecified targets, the number of simultaneous 
lasers the laser seeker head can discriminate, the terminal impact 
conditions, the operational flight programming, laser seeker 
sensitivity and range, laser seeker field of view and field of regard, 
laser seeker tracking gate widths, laser pulse stability requirements, 
laser pulse width discrimination details, and data on the radar/infra-
red frequency is classified CONFIDENTIAL.
    5. The GBU-48 is a 1000-lb (MK-83 or BLU-110) Enhanced Paveway II, 
dual mode GPS/LGB with the MXU-667 Airfoil and the MAU-169L/B CCG. The 
laser sensor enhances standard GPS guidance by allowing rapid 
prosecution of moving targets or fixed targets with large initial 
target location errors (TLE). Information revealing target designation 
tactics and associated aircraft maneuvers, the probability of 
destroying specific/peculiar targets, vulnerabilities regarding 
countermeasures and the electromagnetic environment is classified 
SECRET. Information revealing the probability of destroying common/
unspecified targets, the number of simultaneous lasers the laser seeker 
head can discriminate, and data on the radar/infra-red frequency is 
classified CONFIDENTIAL.
    6. The GBU-54/56s are the dual-mode laser JDAM variants of the GBU-
38/GBU-31 JDAM. The nose fuzes are replaced with DSU-38/DSU-40s, which 
give the weapons both GPS and laser guidance capability. The laser 
sensor enhances the standard JDAM's reactive target capability by 
allowing rapid prosecution of fixed targets with large initial target 
location errors (TLE). The addition of the laser sensor combined with 
additional cabling and mounting hardware turns a standard JDAM into a 
Laser JDAM. Information revealing target designation tactics and 
associated aircraft maneuvers, the probability of destroying specific/
peculiar targets, vulnerabilities regarding countermeasures and the 
electromagnetic environment is classified SECRET. Information revealing 
the probability of destroying common/unspecified targets, the number of 
simultaneous lasers the laser seeker head can discriminate, and data on 
the radar/infra-red frequency is classified CONFIDENTIAL.
    7. 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.
    8. A determination has been made that the Government of Saudi 
Arabia 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. All defense 
articles and services listed in this transmittal have been authorized 
for release and export to Saudi Arabia.
    9. 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. 2015-31272 Filed 12-10-15; 8:45 am]
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