81 FR 27125 - 36(b)(1) Arms Sales Notification

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Office of the Secretary

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 87 (May 5, 2016)

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 81, Number 87 (Thursday, May 5, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27125-27126]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-10562]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Office of the Secretary

[Transmittal No. 16-19]


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: Heather N. Harwell, DSCA/LMO, (703) 
697-9217.
    The following is a copy of a letter to the Speaker of the House of 
Representatives, Transmittal 16-19 with attached Policy Justification 
and Sensitivity of Technology.

    Dated: May 2, 2016.
Aaron Siegel,
Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.
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[[Page 27126]]

Transmittal No. 16-19
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 Australia
    (ii) Total Estimated Value:

Major Defense Equipment *................  $1.08 billion
Other....................................  $ .14 billion
                                          ------------------------------
  Total..................................  $1.22 billion
 

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

Up to 450 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AIM-120D)
Up to 34 AIM-120D Air Vehicles Instrumented (AAVI)
Up to 6 Instrumented Test Vehicles (ITVs)
Up to 10 spare AIM-120 Guidance Sections (GSs)

    Non-MDE:
    This request also includes the following Non-MDE: Containers, 
weapon system support equipment, support and test equipment, site 
survey, transportation, repair and return warranties, spare and repair 
parts, publications and technical data, maintenance, personnel 
training, and training equipment, U.S. Government and contractor 
representative engineering, logistics, and technical support services, 
and other related elements of logistics support.
    (iv) Military Department: Air Force (YLD)
    (v) Prior Related Cases, if any: AT-D-YKX-01 DEC 98, AT-D-YLB-06 
OCT- 11 AT-D-YLC-25 FEB-15
    (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 Annex attached
    (viii) Date Report Delivered to Congress: 21 April 2016
    * as defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control Act.

POLICY JUSTIFICATION

Australia--AIM-120D Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles:

    The Government of Australia requested a possible sale of:
    Major Defense Equipment (MDE):

Up to 450 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AIM-120D)
Up to 34 AIM-120D Air Vehicles Instrumented (AAVI)
Up to 6 Instrumented Test Vehicles (ITVs)
Up to 10 spare AIM-120 Guidance Sections (GSs)
    This request also includes the following Non-MDE: Containers, 
weapon system support equipment, support and test equipment, site 
survey, transportation, repair and return warranties, spare and repair 
parts, publications and technical data, maintenance, personnel 
training, and training equipment, U.S. Government and contractor 
representative engineering, logistics, and technical support services, 
and other related elements of logistics support.
    The total estimated value of MDE is $1.08 billion. The total 
overall estimated value is $1.22 billion.
    This proposed sale will contribute to the foreign policy and 
national security of the United States by helping to improve the 
security of a strategic partner and major contributor to political 
stability, security, and economic development in the Pacific region and 
globally.
    This proposed sale is in support of the Royal Australian Air 
Force's (RAAF) F/A-18, E/A-18G, and F-35 aircraft. This proposed sale 
will provide the RAAF additional air-to-air intercept capability and 
increase interoperability with the U.S. Air Force. Australia will have 
no difficulty absorbing these missiles into its armed forces.
    The proposed sale of this equipment will not alter the basic 
military balance in the region.
    The principal contractor for production is Raytheon in Tucson, 
Arizona. The principal contractor for integration is unknown and will 
be determined during contract negotiations. There are no known offset 
agreements proposed in connection with this potential sale.
    Implementation of this sale will not require the assignment of any 
additional U.S. or contractor representatives to Australia.
    There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a 
result of this proposed sale.
Transmittal No. 16-19
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 AIM-120D AMRAAM hardware, including the missile guidance 
section, is classified CONFIDENTIAL. State-of-the-art technology is 
used in the missile to provide it with unique beyond-visual-range 
capability. The increase in capability from the AIM-120C-7 to AIM-120D 
consists of a two-way data link, a more accurate navigation unit, 
improved High-Angle Off-Boresight (HOBS) capability, and enhanced 
aircraft to missile position handoff.
    2. AIM-120D features a target detection device with embedded 
electronic countermeasures, an electronics unit within the guidance 
section that performs all radar signal processing, mid-course and 
terminal guidance, flight control, target detection, and warhead burst 
point determination.
    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 that 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 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.
    5. All defense articles and services listed in this transmittal 
have been authorized for release and export to the Government of 
Australia.

[FR Doc. 2016-10562 Filed 5-4-16; 8:45 am]
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