[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 106 (Wednesday, June 3, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31583-31586]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-13497]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Office of the Secretary

[Transmittal Nos. 15-17]


36(b)(1) Arms Sales Notification

AGENCY: Defense Security Cooperation Agency, Department of Defense.

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 15-17 with attached transmittal, policy 
justification, and Sensitivity of Technology.

    Dated: May 29, 2015.
Aaron Siegel,
Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.
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[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN03JN15.020

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Transmittal No. 15-17
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: Saudi Arabia
    (ii) Total Estimated Value:

Major Defense Equipment *...............  $1.25 billion
Other...................................  $ .65 billion
                                         -------------------------------
  Total.................................  $1.90 billion
 
* as defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control Act.

    (iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or 
Services under Consideration for Purchase: ten (10) MH-60R multi-
mission helicopters with fourteen (14) APS-153(V) Multi-Mode radars (10 
installed, 2 spares and 2 for testing); twenty-four T-700 GE 401 C 
engines (20 installed and 4 spares); twelve (12) APX-123 Identification 
Friend or Foe transponders (10 installed and 2 spares); fourteen (14) 
AN/AAS-44C(V) Multi-Spectral Targeting Systems Forward Looking Infrared 
Radars (10 installed, 2 spares, and 2 for testing); twenty-six (26) 
Embedded Global Positioning System/Inertial Navigation Systems with 
Selective Availability/Anti-Spoofing Module (20 installed and 6 
spares); Link-16 capability; one-thousand (1,000) AN/SSQ-36/53/62 
Sonobuoys; thirty-eight (38) AGM-114R Hellfire II missiles; five (5) 
AGM-114 M36-E9 Captive Air Training missiles; four (4) AGM-114Q 
Hellfire Training Missiles; three-hundred eighty (380) Advanced 
Precision Kill Weapons System rockets; twelve (12) M-240D crew served 
weapons; and twelve (12) GAU-21 crew served weapons. Also included are 
spare engine containers; facilities study and design; spare and repair 
parts; support and test equipment; communication equipment; aerial 
refueling services; ferry support; publications and technical 
documentation; personnel training and training equipment; U.S. 
Government and contractor engineering, technical and logistics support 
services; and other related elements of logistical and program support.
    (iv) Military Department: Navy (SBU, GBQ, TCZ) Army (HEW).
    (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 Attached Annex.
    (viii) Date Report Delivered to Congress: 20 May 2015.

POLICY JUSTIFICATION

Kingdom of Saudi Arabia--MH-60R Multi-Mission Helicopters

    The Government of Saudi Arabia has requested a sale of ten (10) MH-
60R multi-mission helicopters fourteen (14) APS-153(V) Multi-Mode 
radars (10 installed, 2 spares and 2 for testing); twenty-four T-700 GE 
401 C engines (20 installed and 4 spares); twelve (12) APX-123 
Identification Friend or Foe transponders (10 installed and 2 spares); 
fourteen (14) AN/AAS-44C(V) Multi-Spectral Targeting Systems Forward 
Looking Infrared Radars (10 installed, 2 spares, and 2 for testing); 
twenty-six (26) Embedded Global Positioning System/Inertial Navigation 
Systems with Selective Availability/Anti-Spoofing Module (20 installed 
and 6 spares); and Link-16 capability; one-thousand (1,000) AN/SSQ-36/
53/62 Sonobuoys; thirty-eight (38) AGM-114R Hellfire II missiles; five 
(5) AGM-114 M36-E9 Captive Air Training missiles; four (4) AGM-114Q 
Hellfire Training Missiles; three-hundred eighty (380) Advanced 
Precision Kill Weapons System rockets; twelve (12) M-240D crew served 
weapons; and twelve (12) GAU-21 crew served weapons. Also included are 
spare engine containers; facilities study and design; spare and repair 
parts; support and test equipment; communication equipment; aerial 
refueling services; ferry support; publications and technical 
documentation; personnel training and training equipment; U.S. 
Government and contractor engineering, technical and logistics support 
services; and other related elements of logistical and program support. 
The estimated cost is $1.9 billion.
    This proposed sale will contribute to the foreign policy and 
national security of the United States by helping to improve the 
security of a strategic regional partner, which has been, and continues 
to be, an important force for political stability and economic progress 
in the Middle East.
    The proposed sale will improve Saudi Arabia's capability to meet 
current and future threats from enemy weapon systems. The MH-60R Multi-
Mission Helicopter will provide the capability to identify, engage, and 
defeat maritime security threats along with the ability to perform 
secondary missions including vertical replenishment, search and rescue, 
and communications relay. Saudi Arabia will use the enhanced capability 
as a deterrent to regional threats and to strengthen its homeland 
defense.
    The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the 
basic military balance in the region.
    The principal contractors will be Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation in 
Stratford, Connecticut; and Lockheed Martin Corporation in Owego, New 
York. There are no known offset agreements in connection with this 
potential sale.
    Implementation of this proposed sale will require the assignment of 
additional U.S. Government and/or contractor representatives to Saudi 
Arabia.
    There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a 
result of this proposed sale.
Transmittal No. 15-17
Notice of Proposed Issuance of Letter of Offer Pursuant to Section 
36(b)(1) of the Arms Export Control Act, as Amended
Annex--Item No. vii
    (vii) Sensitivity of Technology
    1. The MH-60R Multi-Mission Helicopter focuses primarily on anti-
submarine and anti-surface warfare missions. The MH-60R carries several 
sensors and data links to enhance its ability to work in a network 
centric battle group and as an extension of its home ship/main 
operating base. The mission equipment subsystem consists of the 
following sensors and subsystems: An acoustics systems consisting of a 
dipping sonar and sonobuoys, Multi-Mode Radar (MMR) with integral 
Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) interrogator, Electronic Support 
Measures (ESM), Integrated Self-Defense (ISD), and Multi-Spectral 
Targeting System (MTS). The aircraft processes sensor data onboard, and 
transmits data via Common Data Link (CDL) (also referred to as 
Hawklink), or Link-16. It can carry AGM-114A/B/K/R Hellfire missiles, 
as well as Mk 46 or Mk 54 torpedoes to engage surface and sub-surface 
targets. The Saudi MH-60R platform will include provisions for both the 
Mk 46 and the Mk 54 light weight torpedo. The MH-60R weapons system is 
classified up to Secret. Unless otherwise noted below, MH-60R hardware 
and support equipment, test equipment and maintenance spares are 
unclassified except when electrical power is applied to hardware 
containing volatile data storage. Technical data and documentation for 
MH-60R weapons systems (to include sub-systems and weapons listed 
below) are classified up to Secret. The sensitive technologies include:
    a. The AGM-114R HELLFIRE missile is an air-to-surface missile with 
a multi-mission, multi-target, precision strike

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capability. The HELLLFIRE can be launched from multiple air platforms 
and is the primary precision weapon for the United States Army. The 
highest level for release of the AGM-114R HELLFIRE II is Secret, based 
upon the software. The highest level of classified information that 
could be disclosed by a proposed sale or by testing of the end item is 
Secret; the highest level that must be disclosed for production, 
maintenance, or training is Confidential. Reverse engineering could 
reveal Confidential information. Vulnerability data, countermeasures, 
vulnerability/susceptibility analyses, and threat definitions are 
classified Secret or Confidential.
    b. Advanced Precision Kill Weapons System (APKWS) laser guided 
rocket to counter the fast attack craft and fast inshore attack craft 
threat. APKWS hardware is Unclassified.
    c. Communications security devices contain sensitive encryption 
algorithms and keying material. The purchasing country has previously 
been released and utilizes COMSEC devices in accordance with set 
procedures and without issue. COMSEC devices will be classified up to 
Secret when keys are loaded.
    d. Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) (KIV-77) contains embedded 
security devices containing sensitive encryption algorithms and keying 
material. The purchasing country will utilize COMSEC devices in 
accordance with set procedures. The AN/APX-123 is classified up to 
Secret.
    e. GPS/PPS/SAASM--Global Positioning System (GPS) provides a space-
based Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) that has reliable 
location and time information in all weather and at all times and 
anywhere on or near the Earth when and where there is an unobstructed 
line of sight to four or more GPS satellites. Selective Availability/
Anti-Spoofing Module (SAASM) (AN/PSN-11) is used by military GPS 
receivers to allow decryption of precision GPS coordinates. In 
addition, the GPS Antenna System (GAS-1) provides protection from enemy 
manipulation of the GPS system. The GPS hardware is Unclassified. When 
electrical power is applied, the system is classified up to Secret.
    f. Ku-Band CDL (AN/ARQ-59; also referred to as Hawklink) and Link-
16 capability to enable network centric capabilities, and improve data 
communications leading to a Common Operating Picture (COP). Link-16 
implementation will be consistent with capabilities already in 
operation with Saudi Arabian defense forces. CDL implementation will 
utilize commercial encryption. The AN/ARQ-59 hardware is unclassified 
when COMSEC module is not loaded with a key, when a key is loaded it is 
classified up to Secret. The Link-16 hardware is Unclassified. When 
electrical power is applied it is classified up to Secret.
    g. Acoustics algorithms are used to process dipping sonar and 
sonobuoy data for target tracking and for the Acoustics Mission Planner 
(AMP), which is a tactical aid employed to optimize the deployment of 
sonobuoys and the dipping sonar. Acoustics hardware is Unclassified. 
The acoustics system is classified up to Secret when environmental and 
threat databases are loaded and/or the system is processing acoustic 
data.
    h. The AN/APS-153 multi-mode radar with an integrated IFF and 
Inverse Synthetic Aperture (ISAR) provides target surveillance/
detection capability. The AN/APS-153 hardware is unclassified. When 
electrical power is applied and mission data loaded, the AN/APS-153 is 
classified up to Secret.
    i. The AN/ALQ-210 (ESM) system identifies the location of an 
emitter. The ability of the system to identify specific emitters 
depends on the data provided by Saudi Arabia. The AN/ALQ-210 hardware 
is Unclassified. When electrical power is applied and mission data 
loaded, the AN/ALQ-210 system is classified up to Secret.
    j. The AN/AAS-44C(V) Forward Looking Infrared Radar (FLIR) uses the 
Multi-spectral Targeting System (MTS) that allows it to operate in day/
night and adverse weather conditions. Imagery is provided by an 
Infrared sensor, a color/monochrome DTV, and a Low-Light TV. The AN/
AAS-44C(V) hardware is Unclassified. When electrical power is applied, 
the AN/AAS-44C(V) is classified up to Secret.
    k. Ultra High Frequency/Very High Frequency (UHF/VHF) Radios (ARC 
210) contain embedded sensitive encryption algorithms and keying 
material. The purchasing country will utilize COMSEC devices in 
accordance with set procedures. The ARC-210 hardware is Unclassified. 
When electrical power is applied and mission data loaded, the ARC-210 
is classified up to Secret.
    l. Satellite Communications Demand Assigned Multiple Access (SATCOM 
DAMA) and Single Channel Ground to Air Radio Systems (SINCGARS), which 
provide increased, interoperable communications capabilities with US 
forces. SATCOM DAMA and SINCGARS hardware is Unclassified. When 
electrical power is applied and mission data loaded these systems are 
classified up to Secret.
    2. All the mission data, including sensitive parameters, is loaded 
from an off board station before each flight and does not stay with the 
aircraft after electrical power has been removed. Sensitive 
technologies are protected as defined in the program protection and 
anti-tamper plans. The mission data and off board station are 
classified up to 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 which might reduce weapon system 
effectiveness or be used in the development of a system with similar or 
advanced capabilities.
    4. 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.
    5. All defense articles and services listed in this transmittal 
have been authorized for release and export to Saudi Arabia.

[FR Doc. 2015-13497 Filed 6-2-15; 8:45 am]
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