[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 170 (Friday, August 31, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53184-53187]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-21451]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Office of the Secretary

[Transmittal Nos. 12-22]


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: Ms. B. English, DSCA/DBO/CFM, (703) 
601-3740.
    The following is a copy of a letter to the Speaker of the House of 
Representatives, Transmittals 12-22 with attached transmittal, and 
policy justification.

    Dated: August 27, 2012.
Aaron Siegel,
Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.
BILLING CODE 5001-06-P

[[Page 53185]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN31AU12.022

Transmittal No. 12-22

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: Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA)
    (ii) Total Estimated Value:

Major Defense Equipment*................  $ 2 million.
Other...................................  255 million.
                                         -------------------------------
  Total.................................  257 million.
 
\*\ as defined in 47(6) of the Arms Export Control Act.

    (iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or 
Services under Consideration for Purchase: Ten Link-16 capable data 
link systems and Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) 
suites for four KSA-provided King Air 350ER aircraft and associated 
ground support, with an option to procure, via Foreign Military Sales, 
an additional four King Air 350ER aircraft with enhanced PT6A-67A 
engines and spare parts equipped with the same ISR suites. The ISR 
suites include a Com-Nav Surveillance/Air Traffic Management cockpit, 
RF-7800M-MP High Frequency Radios with encryption, AN/ARC-210 Very High 
Frequency/Ultra High Frequency/Satellite Communication Transceiver 
Radios with Have Quick II and encryption, a High Speed Data Link, an 
AN/APX-114/119 Identification Friend or Foe Transponder, Embedded 
Global Positioning System/Inertial Navigations Systems (GPS/INS) with a 
Selective Availability Anti-spoofing Module (SAASM), AN/AAR-60 Infrared 
Missile Warning and AN/ALE-47 Countermeasures System, Electro-Optical 
Sensor, SIGINT System, Synthetic Aperture Radar. Also included are 
Ground Stations, Training Aids, C4I Integration, aircraft 
modifications, spare and repair parts, support equipment, publications 
and technical data, personnel training and training equipment, aircraft 
ferry, U.S. Government and contractor technical, engineering, and 
logistics support

[[Page 53186]]

services, and other related elements of logistics support.
    (iv) Military Department: Air Force (QBP)
    (v) Prior Related Cases, if any: None
    (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: 9 Aug 2012

POLICY JUSTIFICATION

Kingdom of Saudi Arabia--King Air 350ER Intelligence, Surveillance, and 
Reconnaissance (ISR) Aircraft and Support

    The Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) has requested a 
possible sale of ten Link-16 capable data link systems and 
Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) suites for four 
KSA-provided King Air 350ER aircraft and associated ground support, 
with an option to procure, via a Foreign Military Sales, an additional 
four King Air 350ER aircraft with enhanced PT6A-67A engines and spare 
parts equipped with the same ISR suites. The ISR suites include a Com-
Nav Surveillance/Air Traffic Management cockpit, RF-7800M-MP High 
Frequency Radios with encryption, AN/ARC-210 Very High Frequency/Ultra 
High Frequency/Satellite Communication Transceiver Radios with Have 
Quick II and encryption, a High Speed Data Link, an AN/APX-114/119 
Identification Friend or Foe Transponder, Embedded Global Positioning 
System/Inertial Navigations Systems (GPS/INS) with a Selective 
Availability Anti-spoofing Module (SAASM), AN/AAR-60 Infrared Missile 
Warning and AN/ALE-47 Countermeasures System, Electro-Optical Sensor, 
SIGINT System, Synthetic Aperture Radar. Also included are Ground 
Stations, Training Aids, C4I Integration, aircraft modifications, spare 
and repair parts, support equipment, publications and technical data, 
personnel training and training equipment, aircraft ferry, U.S. 
Government and contractor technical, engineering, and logistics support 
services, and other related elements of logistics support. The 
estimated cost is $257 million.
    This proposed sale of airborne ISR assets to KSA will contribute to 
the foreign policy and national security of the United States by 
helping to improve the security of a friendly country that has been, 
and continues to be, an important force for political stability and 
economic progress in the Middle East.
    The RSAF needs additional ISR capability to provide persistent, 
real-time route surveillance, facility, infrastructure and border 
security, counter-terrorism and smuggling interdiction, support for 
naval and coastal operations, internal defense and search and rescue 
operations. Currently, the RSAF's RE-3 aircraft is in depot maintenance 
and will not be available until after 2015. In the interim, the King 
AIR 350ER-ISR aircraft will allow the RSAF to perform a portion of the 
RE-3 mission. All systems will be compatible with and will continue to 
supplement the capabilities of the RSAF RE-3 aircraft. The KSA will 
have no difficulties absorbing and using these King Air ISR aircraft.
    The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the 
basic military balance in the region.
    The prime contractors will be L-3 Communications, Mission 
Integration Division in Greenville, Texas; Hawker Beechcraft in 
Wichita, Kansas; Raytheon in Aberdeen Proving Grounds, Maryland; 
Rockwell Collins in Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Harris in Rochester, New York; 
ATK in Ridgecrest, California; BAE Systems in Austin, Texas; and VIASAT 
in Carlsbad, California. There are no known offset agreements proposed 
in connection with this potential sale.
    Implementation of this proposed sale will involve annual Program 
Management Reviews in Saudi Arabia. Estimated U.S. participation will 
include up to six USAF personnel and four contractor personnel for a 
period of up to six weeks per year. There will be approximately six 
contractors in Saudi Arabia providing technical assistance on a full-
time basis until these systems are delivered and integrated into the 
operational units.
    There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a 
result of this proposed sale.

Transmittal No. 12-22

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. This sale will involve the release of classified and sensitive 
technology to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). The King Air 350ER-ISR 
system will be classified up to Secret.
    2. King Air 350ER: The King Air 350ER Intelligence, Surveillance, 
and Reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft is a specifically modified B350ER 
capable of operating in austere environments while providing real-time 
ISR. It is equipped with an integrated electro-optical and infrared 
(EO/IR), Eye-safe Laser Range Finder and Laser Pointer sensor suite 
which gives it a day/night ISR capability. Additionally, the aircraft 
will have a signal intercept system capable of searching, direction 
finding (geo-locating), collection, and on-board analysis of simple 
signals of interest in the very high frequency (VHF) and ultra high 
frequency (UHF) broadcast bands. It will also have synthetic aperture 
radar (SAR) to provide spot and strip ground mapping along with ground 
moving target indicator (GMTI) modes. It will also have two onboard 
workstations that will control the intercept system while one 
workstation will control the EO/IR system. The system will provide 
voice and data communication with personnel on the ground to share 
collected data (more details on specific equipment listed below). 
Aircraft hardware and software are Unclassified; technical data and 
documentation to be provided are Unclassified.
    3. Signals Intelligence Collection and Processing System: This will 
be a tactical signals intelligence (SIGINT) intercept system that will 
search, direction-find, geo-locate, collect, and display the relevant 
information to two operators for analysis and recording. Hardware, 
software, technical data and documentation provided could be classified 
up to Secret.
    4. Electro-Optical Infrared System (Wescam MX-15 or suitable 
substitute): This is a gyro-stabilized, multi-spectral, multi-field of 
view EO/IR system. The system provides color daylight TV and night time 
IR video with a laser range finder and laser pointer through use of an 
externally mounted turret sensor unit and internally mounted sensor 
control. Video imagery is displayed in the aircraft real time and may 
be recorded for subsequent ground analysis. Hardware and technical data 
and documentation to be provided are Unclassified.
    5. Synthetic Aperture Radar (Selex Galileo Picosar or suitable 
substitute): This is an active electronically scanned array (AESA) 
radar providing strip and spotlight SAR imaging and ground moving 
target indicator (GMTI) capability for all-weather and wide range 
surveillance. Hardware and technical data and documentation to be 
provided are Unclassified.
    6. Link 16: This is a command, control, communications, and 
intelligence (C3I) system incorporating high-capacity, jam-resistant, 
digital communication links for exchange of

[[Page 53187]]

near real-time tactical information, including both data and voice, 
among air, ground, and sea elements. The Link 16 hardware, 
publications, performance specifications, operational capability, 
parameters, vulnerabilities to countermeasures, and software 
documentation are classified Confidential. The classified information 
to be provided is necessary for the operation, maintenance, and repair 
(through intermediate level) of the data link terminal, installed 
systems, and related software.
    7. Remote Operation Video Enhanced Receive (ROVER): This system 
allows personnel on the ground to receive the generated video and 
overlays, but not aircraft overlays. This system is Unclassified and 
has no critical technology.
    8. Ultra High Frequency/Very High Frequency (UHF/VHF) Radios (AN/
ARC-210): The ARC 210 [RT-1851A (C)] UHF/VHF secure radios with HAVE 
QUICK II are voice communications radio systems that can operate in 
either normal, secure, and/or jam-resistant modes. They can employ 
cryptographic technology that is classified Secret. Classified elements 
include operating characteristics, parameters, technical data, and 
keying material.
    9. UHF/VHF Air-to-Ground Radio (RF-7800M-MP): This is a wideband 
air-to-ground tactical radio incorporating encrypted voice and data 
communication. Classified elements, up to Secret, include operating 
characteristics, parameters, technical data, and keying material.
    10. Identification Friend or Foe transponder interrogator system 
(AN/APX-114/119): This system is Unclassified unless encrypted Mode 4 
operational evaluator parameters, which are Secret, are loaded into the 
equipment.
    11. Inertial Navigation/Global Positioning System (INS/GPS) (LN-100 
or H764G): This is a highly accurate inertial navigation system with an 
embedded GPS for blended GPS/INS, free-inertial, and GPS only 
navigation solutions. Classified elements up to Secret include a 
Selective Availability Anti-spoofing Module (SAASM) for decryption of 
precision GPS signals.
    12. Counter-Measures Dispensing System (CMDS) (AN/ALE-47): The CMDS 
is an integrated, threat-adaptive, software-programmable dispensing 
system capable of dispensing chaff, flares, and active radio frequency 
expendables. The threats countered by the CMDS include radar-directed 
anti-aircraft artillery (AAA), radar command-guided missiles, radar 
homing-guided missiles, and infrared (IR) guided missiles. The system 
is internally mounted and may be operated as a stand-alone system or 
may be integrated with other on-board EW and avionics systems. The AN/
ALE-47 uses threat data received over the aircraft interfaces to assess 
the threat situation and to determine a response. Expendable routines 
tailored to the immediate aircraft and threat environment may be 
dispensed using one of four operational modes. The hardware is 
Confidential. The software when loaded into the ALE-47 is classified 
Confidential. Technical data and documentation to be provided are 
Unclassified.
    13. Missile Launch Detection System (MLDS) (AN/AAR-60): The MLDS is 
a passive, true imaging sensor device that is optimized to detect the 
radiation signature of a threat missile's exhaust plume within the 
Ultra-Violet (UV) solar blind spectral band. Functionally, the 
architecture detects incoming missile threats and indicates their 
direction of arrival with the `maximum' warning time. The system is 
further noted as featuring inherently high-spatial resolution, advanced 
temporal processing, a very high declaration rate, and the virtual 
elimination of false alarm rates, fast threat detection and the 
automatic initiation of appropriate countermeasures. Physically, a 
typical application comprises four to six self-contained detector units 
each of which provides full signal processing. Hardware, software, and 
technical data and documentation to be provided are Unclassified.
    14. Additional sensitive areas include operating manuals and 
maintenance technical orders containing performance information, 
operating and test procedures, and other information related to support 
operations and repair. The hardware, software, and data identified are 
classified to protect vulnerabilities, design and performance 
parameters and other similar critical information.
    15. If a technologically advanced adversary were to obtain 
knowledge of the specific hardware and software, 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.
[FR Doc. 2012-21451 Filed 8-30-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 5001-06-P