[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 113 (Friday, June 12, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33497-33499]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-14414]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Office of the Secretary

[Transmittal No. 15-35]


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, Transmittal 15-35 with attached transmittal, policy 
justification, and Sensitivity of Technology.

    Dated: June 9, 2015.
Aaron Siegel,
Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.

[[Page 33498]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN12JN15.101

Transmittal No. 15-35
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 Japan
    (ii) Total Estimated Value:

Major Defense Equipment *...............................  $ .850 billion
Other...................................................  $ .850 billion
                                                         ---------------
  Total.................................................  $1.700 billion
 

    (iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or 
Services under Consideration for Purchase: four (4) E-2D Advanced 
Hawkeye (AHE) Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) aircraft, ten 
(10) T56-A-427A engines (8 installed and 2 spares), eight (8) 
Multifunction Information Distribution System Low Volume Terminals 
(MIDS-LVT), four (4) APY-9 Radars, modifications, spare and repair 
parts, support equipment, publications and technical documentation, 
personnel training and training equipment, ferry services, aerial 
refueling support, U.S. Government and contractor logistics, 
engineering, and technical support services, and other related elements 
of logistics and program support.
    (iv) Military Department: Navy (SCJ)
    (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: 01 June 2015
    * as defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control Act.

[[Page 33499]]

Policy Justification

Japan--E-2D Advanced Hawkeye Airborne Early Warning and Control 
Aircraft.

    The Government of Japan has requested a possible sale of four (4) 
E-2D Advanced Hawkeye (AHE) Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) 
aircraft, ten (10) T56-A-427A engines (8 installed and 2 spares), eight 
(8) Multifunction Information Distribution System Low Volume Terminals 
(MIDS-LVT), four (4) APY-9 Radars, modifications, spare and repair 
parts, support equipment, publications and technical documentation, 
personnel training and training equipment, ferry services, aerial 
refueling support, U.S. Government and contractor logistics, 
engineering, and technical support services, and other related elements 
of logistics and program support. The estimated cost is $1.7 billion.
    This proposed sale will contribute to the foreign policy and 
national security of the United States. Japan is one of the major 
political and economic powers in East Asia and the Western Pacific and 
a key partner of the United States in ensuring peace and stability in 
that region. It is vital to the U.S. national interest to assist Japan 
in developing and maintaining a strong and ready self-defense 
capability. This proposed sale is consistent with U.S. foreign policy 
and national security objectives and the 1960 Treaty of Mutual 
Cooperation and Security.
    The proposed sale of E-2D AHE aircraft will improve Japan's ability 
to effectively provide homeland defense utilizing an AEW&C capability. 
Japan will use the E-2D AHE aircraft to provide AEW&C situational 
awareness of air and naval activity in the Pacific region and to 
augment its existing E-2C Hawkeye AEW&C fleet. Japan will have no 
difficulty absorbing these aircraft into its armed forces.
    The proposed sale of these aircraft and support will not alter the 
basic military balance in the region.
    The principal contractor will be Northrop Grumman Corporation 
Aerospace Systems in Melbourne, Florida. The acquisition and 
integration of all systems will be managed by the U.S. Navy's Naval Air 
Systems Command (NAVAIR). There are no known offset agreements proposed 
in connection with this potential sale.
    Implementation of this proposed sale will not require any 
additional U.S. Government or contractor personnel in Japan. However, 
U.S. Government or contractor personnel in-country visits will be 
required on a temporary basis in conjunction with program technical and 
management oversight and support requirements.
    There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a 
result of this proposed sale.
Transmittal No. 15-35
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 E-2D Advanced Hawkeye (AHE) Airborne Early Warning and 
Control (AEW&C) is a state of the art aircraft. The E-2D AHE provides 
detection and surveillance of regional surface and aircraft platforms 
through the use of the APY-9 radar, APX-122A Identification Friend or 
Foe (IFF), and ALQ 217 Electronic Support Measures (ESM) systems. The 
E-2D AHE provides area surveillance and detection, air intercept 
control, air traffic control, search and rescue assistance, 
communication relay and automatic tactical data exchange. The E-2D AHE 
is classified Secret.
    2. The APY-9 radar is a mechanically rotated, electronically 
scanned array, which utilizes Space Time Adaptive Processing technology 
to provide 360-degree detection and surveillance in high clutter 
environments. It is able to provide simultaneous detection and 
surveillance of surface and air units. The APY-9 radar is classified 
Secret.
    3. The Multifunction Information Distribution System Low Volume 
Terminals (MIDS-LVT) is a command, control, communications, and 
intelligence (C3I) system incorporating high-capacity, jam-resistant, 
digital communication links for exchange of near real-time tactical 
information including both data and voice, among air, ground and sea 
elements. The MIDS-LVT incorporates the Link-16 military technical data 
exchange network which supports key theater functions such as 
surveillance, identification, air control, and direction for U.S. 
Services and those allied and partner nations for which there is a 
validated interoperability requirement. The system provides jam-
resistant, wide-area communications on a Link-16 network. Link-16 
provides a correlated, real-time picture of the battle space. These 
devices have embedded communications security (COMSEC) which contains 
sensitive encryption algorithms and keying material. The MIDS-LVT is 
classified Secret.
    4. The APX-122 Interrogator and APX-123 IFF Transponder are 
identification systems designed for command and control. They provide 
the ability to distinguish friendly aircraft, vehicles, or forces, and 
to determine their bearing and range from the interrogator. These 
devices have embedded COMSEC which contains sensitive encryption 
algorithms and keying material. The APX-122 Interrogator and APX-123 
IFF Transponder are classified Secret.
    5. The ALQ-217 Electronic Support Measure system is used to detect, 
intercept, identify, locate, record, and/or analyze sources of radiated 
electromagnetic energy to support classification of unknown surface and 
airborne units. The ALQ-217 is classified Secret.
    6. If a technologically advanced adversary obtained knowledge of 
the specific hardware or software in the proposed sale, the information 
could be used to develop countermeasures which might reduce weapons 
system effectiveness or be used in the development of a system with 
similar or advanced capabilities.
    7. A determination has been made that the Government of Japan 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.
    8. All defense articles and services listed in this transmittal 
have been authorized for release and export to the Government of Japan.

[FR Doc. 2015-14414 Filed 6-11-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 5001-06-P