[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 72 (Thursday, April 14, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 22061-22063]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-08585]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Office of the Secretary

[Transmittal No. 16-23]


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: Heather N. Harwell, DSCA/LMO, (703) 
(703) 697-9217.
    The following is a copy of a letter to the Speaker of the House of 
Representatives, Transmittal 16-23 with attached Policy Justification 
and Sensitivity of Technology.

    Dated: April 8, 2016.
Aaron Siegel,
Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.

[[Page 22062]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN14AP16.000

Transmittal No. 16-23

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 Australia
    (ii) Total Estimated Value:

Major Defense Equipment *...............  $172 million
Other...................................  $214 million
                                         -------------------------------
  Total.................................  $386 million
 

    (iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or 
Services under Consideration for Purchase:
    Major Defense Equipment (MDE):
    Up to 2,950 GBU-39/B Small Diameter Bomb I (SDB I)
    Up to 50 Guided Test Vehicles (GTV) with GBU-39 (T-1)/B (Inert 
Fuze)
    Non-MDE:
    This request also includes the following Non-MDE: containers, 
weapons system support equipment, support and test equipment, site 
survey, transportation, repair and return warranties, spare and repair 
parts, publications and technical data, maintenance, personnel 
training, and training equipment, U.S. Government and contractor 
representative engineering, logistics, and technical support services, 
and other related elements of logistics support.
    (iv) Military Department: Air Force (YAF)
    (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: 04 April 2016
    * As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control Act.

[[Page 22063]]

Policy Justification

Australia--GBU-39 (Small Diameter Bomb Increment I)

    The Government of Australia has requested a possible sale of:
    Major Defense Equipment (MDE):
    Up to 2,950 GBU-39/B Small Diameter Bomb I (SDB I)
    Up to 50 Guided Test Vehicles (GTV) with GBU-39 (T-1)/B (Inert 
Fuze)
    This request also includes the following Non-MDE: containers, 
weapons system support equipment, support and test equipment, site 
survey, transportation, repair and return warranties, spare and repair 
parts, publications and technical data, maintenance, personnel 
training, and training equipment, U.S. Government and contractor 
representative engineering, logistics, and technical support services, 
and other related elements of logistics support.
    The total estimated value of MDE is $172 million. The total overall 
estimated value is $386 million.
    Australia is one of our most important allies in the Western 
Pacific. The strategic location of this political and economic power 
contributes significantly to ensuring peace and economic stability in 
the region. This proposed sale will contribute to the foreign policy 
and national security of the United States by helping to improve the 
security of a major contributor to political stability, security, and 
economic development in the Pacific region and globally.
    The sale of SDB I supports and complements the on-going sale of the 
F-35 to the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). This capability will 
strengthen combined operations and increase interoperability between 
the U.S. Air Force and the RAAF. Australia will have no difficulty 
absorbing this equipment into its armed forces.
    The proposed sale of this equipment will not alter the basic 
military balance in the region.
    The principal contractor for production is Boeing in St. Louis, 
Missouri. The principal contractor for integration is unknown and will 
be determined during contract negotiations. There are no known offset 
agreements proposed in connection with this potential sale.
    Implementation of this proposed sale will not require the 
assignment of any additional U.S. or contractor representatives to 
Australia.
    There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a 
result of this proposed sale.
Transmittal No. 16-23
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. Sensitive and/or classified (up to SECRET) elements of the 
proposed acquisition include hardware, accessories, components, and 
associated software: GBU-39/B Small Diameter Bomb Increment I (SDB I). 
Additional sensitive areas include operating manuals and maintenance 
technical orders containing performance information, operating and test 
procedures, and other information related to the support operations and 
repair. The hardware, software, and data identified are classified to 
protect vulnerabilities, design and performance parameters, and other 
similar critical information.
    2. The GBU-39/B Small Diameter Bomb Increment I (SDB I) is a 250-
pound class weapon designed as a small, all-weather, autonomous, 
conventional, air-to-ground, precision glide weapon able to strike 
fixed and stationary re-locatable targets from standoff range. The SDB 
I weapon system consists of the weapons, the BRU-61/A (4-place 
pneumatic carriage system), shipping and handling containers for a 
single weapon and the BRU-61/A either empty or loaded, and a weapon 
planning module. It has integrated diamond-back type wings that deploy 
after releases, which increases the glide time and therefore maximum 
range. The SDB I Anti-Jam Global Positioning System aided Inertial 
Navigation System (AJGPS/INS) provides guidance to the coordinates of a 
stationary target. The payload/warhead is a very effective multipurpose 
penetrating and blast fragmentation warhead coupled with a cockpit 
selectable electronic fuze. Its size and accuracy allow for an 
effective munition with less collateral damage. A proximity sensor 
provides height of burst capability.
    3. A determination has been made that the recipient country can 
provide substantially the same degree of protection for the sensitive 
technology associated with this system 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.
    4. All defense articles and services listed in this transmittal 
have been authorized for release and export to the Government of 
Australia.

[FR Doc. 2016-08585 Filed 4-13-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 5001-06-P