[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 227 (Wednesday, November 25, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 73740-73742]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-30046]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Office of the Secretary

[Transmittal No. 15-69]


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: Sarah A. Ragan or Heather N. Harwell, 
DSCA/LMO, (703) 604-1546/(703) 607-5339.
    The following is a copy of a letter to the Speaker of the House of 
Representatives, Transmittal 15-69 with attached Policy Justification 
and Sensitivity of Technology.

    Dated: November 20, 2015.
Aaron Siegel,
Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.

[[Page 73741]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN25NO15.001

Transmittal No. 15-69
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: The Government of France
    (ii) Total Estimated Value:

Major Defense Equipment*................................    $ 25 million
Other...................................................     $ 5 million
                                                         ---------------
  TOTAL.................................................    $ 30 million
 

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

Major Defense Equipment (MDE):
    Two-hundred (200) AGM-114K1A Hellfire Missiles

    Non-MDE items included in this request are: Hellfire Missile 
conversion kits; blast fragmentation sleeves and installation kits; 
containers; and transportation.

    (iv) Military Department: Army (FR-B-WAA, Amendment 8)
    (v) Prior Related Cases, if any: FR-B-WAA-$42.2M-09 JAN 08
    (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: 03 NOV 2015
    * as defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control Act

[[Page 73742]]

POLICY JUSTIFICATION

The Government of France--Hellfire Missiles

    The Government of France has requested a possible sale of two-
hundred (200) AGM-114K1A Hellfire Missiles; Hellfire Missile conversion 
kits; blast fragmentation sleeves and installation kits; containers; 
and transportation. The estimated cost of MDE is $25 million. The total 
estimated cost is $30 million.
    This proposed sale will contribute to the foreign policy and 
national security of the United States by improving the capability of a 
NATO ally. France is a major political and economic power in Europe and 
a key democratic partner of the United States in ensuring peace and 
stability around the world. It is vital to the U.S. national interest 
to assist France to develop and maintain a strong and ready self-
defense capability.
    The additional missiles will meet France's operational requirements 
for a precision guided tactical missile for its Tigre Attack 
Helicopter. The purchase will directly support French forces actively 
engaged in operations in Mali and Northern Africa, providing them the 
capability to successfully engage targets with minimal collateral 
damage. France will have no difficulty absorbing these missiles into 
its armed forces.
    The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the 
basic military balance in the region.
    There is no principal contractor for this sale as the missiles are 
coming from U.S. Army stock. There are no known offset agreements in 
connection with this potential sale.
    Implementation of this proposed sale will not require any 
additional U.S. Government or contractor representatives in France.
    There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a 
result of this proposed sale.
Transmittal No. 15-69
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. AGM-114K1A: The highest level for release of the K1A semi active 
laser is SECRET, based upon the software. Software documentation (e.g., 
Data Processing, Software Requirements, Algorithms) are not authorized 
for disclosure. The highest level of classified information that could 
be disclosed by a proposed sale or by testing of the end item is up to 
and including SECRET. The highest level that must be disclosed for 
production, maintenance, or training is up to and including SECRET. 
Reverse engineering could reveal SECRET information. Vulnerability 
data, countermeasures, vulnerability/susceptibility analyses, and 
threat definitions are classified SECRET or CONFIDENTIAL. Detailed 
information to include discussions, reports and studies of system 
capabilities, vulnerabilities and limitations that leads to conclusions 
on specific tactics or other counter countermeasures (CCM) are not 
authorized for disclosure.
    2. A determination has been made that the recipient country can 
provide 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. 2015-30046 Filed 11-24-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 5001-06-P