[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 97 (Tuesday, May 20, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27590-27591]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-13111]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Office of the Secretary
[Transmittal No. 97-15]


36(b)(1) Arms Sales Notification

AGENCY: Department of Defense, Defense Security Assistance Agency.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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

[[Page 27591]]

requirements of section 155 of P.L. 104-164 dated 21 July 1996.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Ms. J. Hurd, DSAA/COMPT/FPD, (703) 604-6575.
    The following is a copy of a letter to the Speaker of the House of 
Representatives, Transmittal 97-15, with attached transmittal, policy 
justification, and sensitivity of technology pages.

    Dated: May 14, 1997.
L.M. Bynum,
Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.

Defense Security Assistance Agency

Honorable Newt Gingrich
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Washington, DC 20515-6501

    Dear Mr. Speaker: Pursuant to the reporting requirements of 
Section 36(b)(1) of the Arms Export Control Act, we are forwarding 
herewith Transmittal No. 97-15, concerning the Department of the 
Navy's proposed Letter(s) of Offer and Acceptance (LOA) to Australia 
for defense articles and services estimated to cost $27 million. A 
notification for Section 36(c)(1), of the Arms Export Control Act, 
will be forwarded separately, by State Department, regarding the 
direct commercial sale for the upgrade of these helicopters to the 
SH-2G configuration. Soon after this letter is delivered to your 
office, we plan to notify the news media.

    Sincerely,
Thomas G. Rhame,
Lieutenant General, USA, Director.
Attachments--Same ltr to:
    House Committee on International Relations
    Senate Committee on Appropriations
    Senate Committee on Foreign Relations
    House Committee on National Security
    Senate Committee on Armed Services
    House Committee on Appropriations
Transmittal No. 97-15
Notice of Proposed Issuance of Letter of Offer Pursuant to Section 
36(b)(1) of the Arms Export Control Act
    (i) Prospective Purchaser: Australia.
    (ii) Total Estimated Value:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                 Million
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Major Defense Equipment *.....................................       $24
Other.........................................................         3
                                                               ---------
  Total.......................................................        27
------------------------------------------------------------------------
* As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control Act.           

    (iii) Description of Articles or Services Offered: Twenty-nine 
excess SH-2F/G LAMPS MK 1 helicopters, spare and repair parts, support 
equipment, personnel training and training equipment, publications and 
technical data, and technical support and other related elements of 
logistics support.
    (iv) Military Department: Navy (SCE)
    (v) Sales Commission, Fee, etc., Paid, Offered, or Agreed to be 
Paid: None.
    (vi) Sensitivity of Technology Contained in the Defense Article or 
Defense Services Proposed to be Sold: See Annex attached.
    (vii) Date Report Delivered to Congress: May 9, 1997.

Policy Justification

Australia--SH-2F/G LAMPS MK 1  Helicopters

    The Government of Australia has requested the purchase of 29 excess 
SH-2F/G LAMPS MK 1 helicopters, space and repair parts, support 
equipment, personnel training equipment, publications and technical 
data, and technical support and other related elements of logistics 
support. The estimated cost is $27 million.
    This sale will contribute to the foreign policy and national 
security of the United States 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 the Pacific region.
    The Royal Australian Navy will use these helicopters in a maritime 
patrol for surface surveillance and defense. Australia will have no 
difficulty absorbing these helicopters into its armed forces.
    The sale of this equipment and support will not affect the basic 
military balance in the region.
    The prime contractor will be Kaman Aerospace Corporation, 
Bloomfield, Connecticut. There are no offset agreements proposed to be 
entered into in connection with this potential sale.
    Implementation of this sale will not require the assignment of any 
additional U.S. Government personnel or contractor representatives to 
Australia.
    There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a 
result of this sale.
Transmittal No. 97-15--Notice of Proposed Issuance of Letter of Offer 
Pursuant to Section 36(B)(1) of the Arms Export Control Act
Annex--Item No. vi
    (vi) Sensitivity of Technology:
    1. The SH-2F/G LAMPS MK 1 ASW helicopter configuration proposed for 
this sale will not contain any classified equipment or components.
    2. If a technologically advanced adversary were to obtain knowledge 
of the specific hardware in this sale, 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.
    3. 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.

[FR Doc. 97-13111 Filed 5-19-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 5000-04-M