83 FR 17153 - Arms Sales Notification

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Office of the Secretary

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 75 (April 18, 2018)

The Department of Defense is publishing the unclassified text of an arms sales notification.

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 75 (Wednesday, April 18, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17153-17155]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-08088]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Office of the Secretary

[Transmittal No. 17-72]


Arms Sales Notification

AGENCY: Defense Security Cooperation Agency, Department of Defense.

ACTION: Arms sales notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Defense is publishing the unclassified text 
of an arms sales notification.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Pamela Young, (703) 697-9107, 
[email protected] or Kathy Valadez, (703) 697-9217, 
[email protected]; DSCA/DSA-RAN.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This 36(b)(1) arms sales notification is 
published to fulfill the requirements of section 155 of Public Law 104-
164 dated July 21, 1996. The following is a copy of a letter to the 
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Transmittal 17-72 with 
attached Policy Justification.

    Dated: April 12, 2018.
Shelly E. Finke,
Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.

[[Page 17154]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN18AP18.000

Transmittal No. 17-72
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 *.............................       4.4 million
Other.................................................    $143.6 million
                                                       -----------------
  TOTAL...............................................    $148.0 million
 

    (iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or 
Services under Consideration for Purchase:
    Major Defense Equipment (MDE): Two thousand, five hundred four 
(2,504) rounds of M795 with Insensitive Munitions Explosive (IMX) 101 
Explosive Fill 155mm HE Projectile
    Non-MDE includes: Also included are 155mm High Explosive, 
Illumination and White Phosphorous munitions, point detonating fuzes, 
electronic-timed fuzes, M231 and M232/M232A1 propelling charges, 
percussion primers, technical publications and books, technical data 
for operational maintenance, technical assistance and services, and 
other related elements of logistics and program support.
    (iv) Military Department: Army
    (v) Prior Related Cases, if any: AT-B-UCY and UEJ
    (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: April 4, 2018
    * As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control Act.

POLICY JUSTIFICATION

Australia--M795 with Insensitive Munitions Explosive (IMX) 101 
Explosive Fill 155mm HE Projectile

    The Government of Australia has requested to buy two thousand, five 
hundred four (2,504) rounds of M795 with Insensitive Munitions 
Explosive (IMX) 101 Explosive Fill 155mm High Explosive (HE) 
Projectile. Also included are 155mm High Explosive, Illumination and 
White Phosphorous munitions, point detonating fuzes, electronic-timed 
fuzes, M231 and M232/M232A1 propelling charges, percussion primers, 
technical publications and books, technical data for operational 
maintenance, technical assistance and services, and other related 
elements of logistics and program support. The total estimated program 
cost is $148 million.
    This proposed sale will enhance the foreign policy and national 
security objectives of the United States by helping to improve the 
security of a strategic partner which has been, and continues to be an 
important force for political stability and economic progress in the 
East Asia and Pacific region.
    The proposed sale of 155mm howitzer ammunition will improve 
Australia's capability to meet out-year Operational Readiness Training 
requirements. Australia will use this capability to strengthen its 
homeland defense and deter regional threats. Australia will

[[Page 17155]]

have no difficulty absorbing this equipment into its armed.
    The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the 
basic military balance in the region.
    The principal contractor will be determined at a later date. 
Material could potentially be sourced from a combination of stock and 
procurement. There are no known offset agreements proposed in 
connection with this potential sale.
    Implementation of this proposed sale will not require the 
assignment of any additional U.S. Government 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. 17-72
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 M795 Insensitive Munitions Explosive (IMX) 101 Explosive 
Fill 155mm HE Projectile is UNCLASSIFIED. The M231/M232A1 Modular 
Artillery Charge System (MACS) consists of two propelling charges, the 
M231 and the M232/232A1, and associated packaging. The system is 
compatible with all current and planned 155mm field artillery weapons. 
MACS uses a ``build-a-charge'' concept in which increments are 
identical to all others in the same lot desiccation, retained for 
future use. The M231 is fired either singly (Charge 1-L) or in pairs 
(Charge-2L) to engage targets. The M232/M232A1 is fired in groups of 3 
(Charge-3H) or groups of 4 (Charge-4H) or groups of 5 (Charge-5H) to 
engage targets. The highest classification level of the charge is 
UNCLASSIFED.
    2. Although the charges are UNCLASSIFIED, they have associated 
technology that is sensitive. Certain aspects of the performance, 
specifically the interior ballistics characteristics, and some of the 
design features are considered sensitive data. This UNCLASSIFIED 
sensitive data could be used by a technologically advanced potential 
enemy to duplicate the charges through reverse engineering. No 
technical data packages or test information should be supplied.
    3. A determination has been made that Australia 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.
    4. All defense articles and services listed in this transmittal 
have been authorized for release and export to Australia.

[FR Doc. 2018-08088 Filed 4-17-18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 5001-06-P