SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

This 36(b) 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 the attached Transmittal 26-92, Policy Justification, and Sensitivity of Technology.

Transmittal No. RSAT 26-92

Notice of Proposed Issuance Letter of Offer Pursuant to Section 36(b)(1) of the Arms Export Control Act, as amended

(i) Prospective Purchaser: Government of Italy

(ii) Total Estimated Value:

(iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or Services under Consideration for Purchase:

Five thousand thirty-one (5,031) Guidance Sections Single Variant Air-to-Air Advanced

Precision Kill Weapon System-II WGU-59B/B

Non-MDE:

The following non-MDE items will also be included: LAU-131 A/A launchers; Mk-152 high explosive warheads; MK66 rocket motors; proximity fuzes; WTU-1/B practice warheads; inert MK66 rocket motors; other support equipment; publications and technical documentation; transportation; U.S. Government and contractor engineering, technical, and logistics support services; and other related elements of logistics and program support.

(iv) Military Department: Navy (IT-P-ALC)

(v) Prior Related Cases, if any: None

(vi) Sales Commission, Fee, etc., Paid, Offered, or Agreed to be Paid: None known at this time

(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: August 21, 2026

* as defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control Act. ( printed page 60116)

POLICY JUSTIFICATION

Italy—Guidance Section Single Variant Air-to-Air Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System-II

The Government of Italy has requested to buy five thousand thirty-one (5,031) Guidance Sections Single Variant Air-to-Air Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System-II WGU 59B/B. The following non-major defense equipment items will also be included: LAU-131 A/A launchers; Mk-152 high explosive warheads; MK66 rocket motors; proximity fuzes;

WTU-1/B practice warheads; inert MK66 rocket motors; other support equipment; publications and technical documentation; transportation; U.S. Government and contractor engineering, technical, and logistics support services; and other related elements of logistics and program support. The estimated total cost is $364 million.

This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States by improving the security of a NATO ally that is a force for political stability and economic progress in Europe.

The proposed sale will improve Italy's capability to meet current and future threats by strengthening its homeland defense and serving as a deterrent to regional threats. This enhanced capability will protect Italy and local allied land forces and will significantly improve Italy's contribution to NATO integrated air missile defense. Italy will have no difficulty absorbing these articles and services into its armed forces.

The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the basic military balance in the region.

The principal contractor will be BAE Systems, located in Nashua, NH. At this time, the U.S. Government is not aware of any offset agreement proposed in connection with this potential sale. Any offset agreement will be defined in negotiations between the purchaser and the contractor.

Implementation of this proposed sale will not require the assignment of any additional U.S. Government or contractor representatives to Italy.

There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a result of this proposed sale.

Transmittal No. 26-92

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 Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System-II (APKWS-II) is a design conversion of an unguided hydra 2.75-inch rocket with a laser guidance kit to give it precision-kill capability. The APKWS AUR consists of an APKWS-II guidance section developed by BAE systems, a 2.75-inch MK66 Mod 4 rocket motor, and a fuzed M151 or Mk-152 high explosive warhead. These guided rockets are steered to the target by following reflected laser beam energy directed onto the target either by the launching aircraft, a second aircraft, or ground-based troops operating a laser designator. The APKWS-II is a tactical rocket system that can be launched from several platforms, including rotary wing, fixed wing, and ground-based vehicles, offering multi-mission, multi-target capability, and precision-strike lethality.

2. The highest level of classification of defense articles, components, and services included in this potential sale is SECRET.

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 system effectiveness or be used in the development of a system with similar or advanced capabilities.

4. A determination has been made that Italy can provide substantially the same degree of protection for the sensitive technology being released as the U.S. Government. This proposed 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 Italy.

91 FR 60115