[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 183 (Wednesday, September 21, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64880-64882]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-22692]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Office of the Secretary

[Transmittal No. 15-55]


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: Chang Sug, DSCA/LMO, (703) 697-8985.
    The following is a copy of a letter to the Speaker of the House of 
Representatives, Transmittal 15-55 with attached Policy Justification.

    Dated: September 16, 2016.
Aaron Siegel,
Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.

[[Page 64881]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN21SE16.000

Transmittal No. 15-55
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 Afghanistan
    (ii) Total Estimated Value:

Major Defense Equipment*.................  $30.0 million
Other....................................  $30.0 million
                                          ------------------------------
  TOTAL..................................  $60.0 million
 

    (iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or 
Services under Consideration for Purchase:
    Major Defense Equipment (MDE): Four thousand, eight hundred and 
ninety-one (4,891) M16A4 5.56mm Rifles, Four hundred and eighty-five 
(485) M240B 7.62mm Machine Guns, Eight hundred (800) M2 .50 caliber 
Machine Guns.
    Non-MDE:

Also included with this request are M249 Light Automatic Machine Guns; 
M110 7.62mm Sniper Rifles; MK-19 40mm Grenade Launchers; MK-93 40mm 
Machine Gun Mounts; M3 Tripod Machine Gun Mounts; Spare Barrels; spare 
and repair parts; lot validation; publications and technical 
documentation; personnel training and training equipment; Quality 
Assurance Team; U.S. Government and contractor

[[Page 64882]]

technical and logistics support services; and other related elements of 
logistics and program support.

    (iv) Military Department: Army (UBY)
    (v) Prior Related Cases, if any:

FMS case B6-B-FAK--$138.8M--Nov 2007; FMS case E3-B-UAF--$39.0M--Aug 
2008; FMS case E6-B-UBN--$55.0M--Jul 2009; FMS case AF-B-UBI--$3.3M--
Jan 2010; FMS case G5-B-UAG--$39.0M--Mar 2010; FMS case G5-B-UEQ--
$11.0M--Nov 2010; FMS case G5-B-UEK--$152.5M--Nov 2010; FMS case G6-B-
UBD--$20.2M--Apr 2011; FMS case G6-B-UBI--$512.6M--May 2011; FMS case 
H5-B-UCN--$20.8M--Dec 2012; FMS case H5-B-UES--$1.8M--Aug 2013; FMS 
case J3-B-UCJ--$50.9M--Mar 2015; FMS case J3-B-UDE--$2.7M--Apr 2015; 
FMS case J3-B-UEW--$5.66M--Sep 2015; FMS case J8-B-UAI--$21M--May 2015; 
FMS case J8-B-UAN--$7.6M--Jul 2015; FMS case V3-B-UAP--$9M--Apr 2016

    (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: None.
    (viii) Date Report Delivered to Congress: 2016 AUG 17.

    * as defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control Act.

POLICY JUSTIFICATION

Afghanistan--Individual and Crew Served Weapons

    The Government of Afghanistan has requested a possible sale of:
    Major Defense Equipment (MDE): Four thousand, eight hundred and 
ninety-one (4,891) M16A4 5.56mm Rifles, Four hundred and eighty-five 
(485) M240B 7.62mm Machine Guns, Eight hundred (800) M2 .50 caliber 
Machine Guns.
    Non-MDE:

Also included with this request are M249 Light Automatic Machine Guns; 
M110 7.62mm Sniper Rifles; MK-19 40mm Grenade Launchers; MK-93 40mm 
Machine Gun Mounts; M3 Tripod Machine Gun Mounts; Spare Barrels; spare 
and repair parts; lot validation; publications and technical 
documentation; personnel training and training equipment; Quality 
Assurance Team; U.S. Government and contractor technical and logistics 
support services; and other related elements of logistics and program 
support. The estimated cost is $60 million.
    The proposed sale will enhance the foreign policy and national 
security objectives of the United States by helping to improve the 
security of a strategic partner by providing weapons needed to maintain 
security and stability, as well as to conduct offensive operations 
against an ongoing insurgency. A stable and secure Afghanistan is vital 
to regional stability. This proposed sale will also demonstrate the 
U.S. commitment to Afghanistan's security.
    Afghanistan has an urgent requirement to increase its stocks of 
crew-served weapons for ongoing counter-insurgency operations and 
enduring threats to its national sovereignty. These articles were 
determined to be necessary and are based on Afghanistan's force 
structure and operational requirements.
    The Afghan National Army (ANA) will use these weapons and equipment 
in both offensive and defensive operations against insurgents and 
terrorists within their borders. Without these defense articles, the 
ANA will not have the military capabilities that are necessary to 
maintain security and stability. The ANA is thoroughly trained and 
prepared to use the proposed defense articles. Afghanistan will have no 
difficulty absorbing this equipment into its armed forces.
    While equipment for the ANA is typically purchased with Title 10 
Afghanistan Security Forces Fund (ASFF) appropriations and implemented 
by DSCA through pseudo-FMS cases, Afghanistan will use U.S. government 
grants to fund and support this proposed purchase.
    The principal contractor for the M240B will be FN America, 
Colombia, SC. The principal contractors for the M16A4, M2, and other 
weapons have not been identified pending open competition and contract 
award. Some items may be drawn from Army stocks to meet desired 
delivery dates. There are no known offset agreements proposed in 
connection with this potential sale.
    Implementation of this sale will require the assignment of 
approximately eight (8) additional U.S. Government and approximately 
six (6) contractor representatives to Afghanistan for approximately 5-6 
weeks in support of the fielding, maintenance and personnel training.
    There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a 
result of this proposed sale.

[FR Doc. 2016-22692 Filed 9-20-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 5001-06-P