[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 101 (Friday, May 26, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24314-24317]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-09646]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Office of the Secretary

[Transmittal No. 17-14]


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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kathy Valadez, (703) 697-9217 or 
Pamela Young, (703) 697-9107; DSCA/DSA-RAN.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This 36(b)(1) arms sales notification is 
published to fulfill the requirements of section 155 of Public Law 104-
164 dated July 21, 1996. The following is a copy of a letter to the 
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Transmittal 17-14 with 
attached Policy Justification and Sensitivity of Technology.

    Dated: May 9, 2017.
Aaron Siegel,
Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.

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Transmittal No. 17-14
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 Slovakia
    (ii) Total Estimated Value:

Major Defense Equipment *...............................     $ 0 million
Other...................................................    $150 million
                                                         ---------------
  Total.................................................    $150 million
 

    (iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or 
Services under Consideration for Purchase:
    Major Defense Equipment (MDE): None
    Non-MDE: Nine (9) Bell 429 Light Utility Helicopters with customer-
unique modifications. Also included are WESCAM MX-10 cameras, training, 
spare parts, and logistical support, mission equipment, communication 
and navigation equipment, special tools and test equipment, ground 
support equipment, airframe and engine spare parts, technical data, 
publications, maintenance work order/electronic change proposals, 
technical assistance, repair and return, quality assurance team, and 
transportation of aircraft.
    (iv) Military Department: Army
    (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: April 27, 2017
    * as defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control Act.

POLICY JUSTIFICATION

Government of Slovakia--Bell 429 Light Utility Helicopters

    Slovakia has requested a possible sale of nine (9) Bell 429 Light 
Utility Helicopters with customer-unique modifications. Also included 
are WESCAM MX-10 cameras, training, spare parts, and logistical 
support, mission equipment, communication and navigation equipment, 
special tools and test equipment, ground support equipment, airframe 
and engine spare parts, technical data, publications, maintenance work 
order/electronic change proposals, technical assistance, repair and 
return, quality assurance team, and transportation of aircraft. The 
estimated cost is $150 million.
    This proposed sale will enhance the foreign policy and national 
security objectives of the United States by helping to improve the 
security of a NATO ally that has been, and continues to be an important 
force for political stability and economic progress within Europe.
    The proposed sale of the Bell 429 light utility helicopters will 
improve Slovakia's capability to meet current and future threats. 
Slovakia will use the enhanced capability to strengthen its homeland 
defense and deter regional threats. Slovakia will have no difficulty 
absorbing these helicopters into its armed forces.
    The proposed sale will not alter the basic military balance in the 
region.
    The principal contractor will be Bell Helicopter of Piney Flats, 
Tennessee. There are no known offset agreements in connection with this 
potential sale.
    Implementation of this proposed sale will not require the 
assignment of any additional U.S. Government or contractor 
representatives to Slovakia.
    There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a 
result of this proposed sale.
Transmittal No. 17-14
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 Bell 429 is a light twin, newly manufactured helicopter and 
is optimized for Instrument Flight Rules (IFR), Category A, and JAROPS-
3 compliant operations. The Bell 429 features two/three multi-function 
displays, dual digital 3-axis autopilot and an integrated electronic 
data recorder provides enhanced situational awareness and post flight 
analysis. The Bell 429 standard configuration for Communications, 
Navigation and Surveillance (CNS) consists of Garmin GTN 650/750 NAV/
COM/WAAS GPS system. The Identifier, Friend or Foe (IFF) will be the 
APX-123, which provides the Mode 4/5 capability. One (1) each Multi 
Sensor Cameras, L3 WESCAM MX10s will be equipped on four (4) of the 
nine (9) Bell 429 Helicopters. The communications suite is as follows: 
one (1) each AN/ARC-231 Multi-mode radios providing VHF FM, VHF-AM, 
UHF, HQII and DAMA SATCOM. Aircraft survivability equipment (ASE) will 
not be provided on this LOA.

    Identification and security classification of sensitive 
technological information and/or restricted information contained in 
the equipment, major components, subsystems, software, technical data 
(Performance, Maintenance, R&M, etc.) documentation, training devices 
and services to be conveyed with the proposed sale to include a brief 
justification/explanation of why information is sensitive provided as 
follows:

    (1) The AN/APX-123A, Identification Friend of Foe (IFF) 
Transponder, is a space diversity transponder and is installed on 
various military platforms. When installed in conjunction with platform 
antennas and the RCU (or other appropriate control unit), the 
transponder provides identification, altitude and surveillance 
reporting in response to interrogations from airborne, ground-based 
and/or surface interrogators. The transponder provides operational 
capabilities for Mark XIIA Identification Friend of Foe (IFF) 
capabilities of Modes 1, 2, 3/A,C and 4&5 and Mode S (levels 1, 2, and 
3 capable). Additionally, the AN/APX-123 also provides automated ID, 
position and latitude of the aircraft, and unencrypted ADS-B and is 
compatible with the Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) 
II equipment.
    (2) The WESCAM MX-10 is a small Multi-Sensor, Multi-Spectral 
Imaging System with Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) and Embedded with 
Global Positioning Systems (GPS) Standard Positioning Service (SPS). 
The WESCAM MX-10 camera system contains a LN-200 IMU manufactured by 
Northrop Grumman in the United States. WESCAM MX-10 is embedded with 
GPS SPS. SPS is a three-dimensional position and time determination 
capability provided to a user equipped with a minimum capability GPS 
SPS receiver in accordance with GPS national policy.
    (3) The AN/ARC-231 (V)(C) is a secure communication system that 
provides Line-of-Sight (LOS) communications and Beyond Line-of-Sight 
(BLOS) satellite communications (SATCOM), as well as Voice and data 
communications capabilities. In addition to Satellite Communications, 
the AN/ARC-231 (V)(C) provides Secure/Electronic Counter-
Countermeasures (ECCM) communications in the following waveform, The 
Single Channel Ground and Airborne System (SINCGARS) and the HAVE QUICK 
(HQ). The AN/ARC-231 functions by transmitting and receiving the Radio 
Frequency (RF) in the 30 MHz-511.995 MHZ range. The Receiver 
Transmitter provides communication in Frequency Modulation (FM), Very 
High Frequency--Amplitude Modulation Air Traffic Control Band (VHF AM 
ATC), Very High Frequency--Frequency Modulation Public Service & 
Maritime Band, Ultra High Frequency--

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Amplitude Modulation (UHF AM) HAVEQUICK/Ground-Air Band, Ultra high 
Frequency Satellite (UHF SATFCOM) Band and Ultra High Frequency--
Frequency Modulation Public Service Band.
    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.
    3. This sale is necessary in furtherance of the U.S. foreign policy 
and national security objectives outlined in the Policy Justification. 
Moreover, the benefits to be derived from this sale, as outlined in the 
Policy Justification, outweighs the potential damage that could result 
if the sensitive technology were revealed to unauthorized persons.
    4. All defense articles and services listed in this transmittal 
have been authorized for release and export to the Slovak Republic.

[FR Doc. 2017-09646 Filed 5-25-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 5001-06-P