81 FR 90336 - 36(b)(1) Arms Sales Notification

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Office of the Secretary

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 240 (December 14, 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 240 (Wednesday, December 14, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 90336-90338]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-29973]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Office of the Secretary

[Transmittal No. 16-65]


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: Pam Young, DSCA/SE&E-RAN, (703) 697-
9107.
    The following is a copy of a letter to the Speaker of the House of 
Representatives, Transmittal 16-65 with attached Policy Justification 
and Sensitivity of Technology.

    Dated: December 9, 2016.
Aaron Siegel,
Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.

[[Page 90337]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN14DE16.023


[[Page 90338]]


Transmittal No. 16-65
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 Finland
    (ii) Total Estimated Value:

Major Defense Equipment *................  $57 million
Other....................................  $99 million
                                          ------------------------------
  TOTAL..................................  $156 million
 

    (iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or 
Services under Consideration for Purchase:
    Major Defense Equipment (MDE):
Ninety (90) Multifunctional Information Distribution System Joint 
Tactical Radio System (MIDS-JTRS) Variant(s)
    Non-MDE includes:
    Follow-on equipment and support for Finland's F/A-18 Mid-Life 
Upgrade (MLU) program includes software test and integration center 
upgrades, flight testing, spare and repair parts, support and test 
equipment, transportation, publications and technical documentation, 
personnel training and training equipment, U.S. Government and 
contractor technical and logistics support services, and other related 
elements of logistics support.
    (iv) Military Department: Navy
    (v) Prior Related Cases, if any:
FMS case FI-P-SAA $2.4 billion--9 Jun 1992
FMS case FI-P-SAB $675 million--7 Feb 1994
FMS case FI-P-GAD $25 million--13 Jul 2001
FMS case FI-P-LBB $63 million--4 Aug 2001
FMS case FI-P-LBC $127 million--1 Jan 2004
FMS case FI-P-LBD $252 million--25 Jul 2007
FMS case FI-P-LBH $307 million--3 Apr 2009
FMS case FI-P-GAU $170 million--27 Jun 2013
    (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: December 2, 2016
    * as defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control Act.

POLICY JUSTIFICATION

Government of Finland--F-18 Mid-Life Upgrade Program

    The Government of Finland has requested a possible sale of follow-
on equipment and support for Finland's F/A-18 Mid-Life Upgrade (MLU) 
program, consisting of: Ninety (90) Multifunctional Information 
Distribution System Joint Tactical Radio System (MIDS-JTRS) variant(s). 
The proposed program support also includes software test and 
integration center upgrades, flight testing, spare and repair parts, 
support and test equipment, transportation, publications and technical 
documentation, personnel training and training equipment, U.S. 
Government and contractor technical and logistics support services, and 
other related elements of logistics support. Total estimated program 
cost is $156 million.
    This proposed sale will contribute to the foreign policy and 
national security objectives of the United State by helping to improve 
the security of a friendly country which has been and continues to be 
an important force for political stability and economic progress in 
Europe.
    The Finnish Air Force (FAF) intend to purchase this MLU program 
equipment and services to extend the useful life of its F/A-18 fighter 
aircraft and enhance their survivability and communications 
connectivity. The FDF needs this upgrade to keep pace with technology 
advances in sensors, weaponry, and communications. Finland has 
extensive experience operating the F/A-18 aircraft and will have no 
difficulty incorporating the upgraded capabilities into its forces.
    The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the 
basic military balance in the region.
    The principal contractors will be Raytheon in Waltham, 
Massachusetts; Lockheed Martin in Bethesda, Maryland; The Boeing 
Company in St. Louis, Missouri; BAE North America in Arlington, 
Virginia; General Electric in Fairfield, Connecticut; General Dynamics 
in West Falls Church, Virginia; Northrop Grumman in Falls Church, 
Virginia; Rockwell Collins in Cedar rapids, Iowa; ViaSat in Carlsbad, 
California; and Data Link Solutions in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. There are no 
known offset agreements proposed in connection with this potential 
sale.
    Implementation of this proposed sale will require multiple trips to 
Finland involving U.S. Government and contractor representatives for 
technical reviews, support, and training.
    There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a 
result of this proposed sale.
Transmittal No. 16-65
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 Multifunctional Information Distribution System Joint 
Tactical Radio System (MIDS-JTRS) is not classified but is considered a 
COMSEC Controlled Item (CCI). There are no training devices, associated 
documentation, or services to be provided with the sale of these MIDS-
JTRS units. No sensitive information is provided or associated with 
this sale.
    2. All defense articles and services listed in this transmittal 
have been authorized for release and export to the Government of 
Finland.

[FR Doc. 2016-29973 Filed 12-13-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 5001-06-P