[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 136 (Tuesday, July 18, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32793-32796]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-15008]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Office of the Secretary

[Transmittal No. 17-12]


Arms Sales Notification

AGENCY: Defense Security Cooperation Agency, Department of Defense.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Department of Defense is publishing the unclassified text 
of an 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 17-12 with 
attached Policy Justification and Sensitivity of Technology.

    Dated: July 13, 2017.
Aaron Siegel,
Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.

[[Page 32794]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN18JY17.000


[[Page 32795]]


Transmittal No. 17-12
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 *...............................   $0.04 billion
Other...................................................   $1.26 billion
                                                         ---------------
  Total.................................................   $1.30 billion
 

    (iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or 
Services under Consideration for Purchase:
    The Government of Australia requested the sale of up to five (5) 
Gulfstream G-550 aircraft modified to integrate Airborne Intelligence, 
Surveillance, Reconnaissance, and Electronic Warfare (AISREW) mission 
systems, Global Positioning System (GPS) capability, secure 
communications, aircraft defensive systems, and whole life costs of 
airborne and ground segments.
    This proposed sale includes up to five (5) AN/AAQ-24 (V)N Large 
Aircraft Infrared Countermeasures (LAIRCM) systems, and additional sub-
component spares. Each prime LAIRCM system will consist of: one (1) 
Guardian Laser Terminal Assemblies (GLTA), five (5) Infrared Missile 
Warning Sensors, (IRMWS), one (1) LAIRCM System Processor Replacements 
(LSPR) MDE items, one (1) LAIRCM System Processor Replacements (LSPR), 
one (1) Control Indicator Unit Replacement (CIUR), one (1) Smart Card 
Assembly (SCA), one (1) High Capacity Card (HCC), and one (1) User Data 
Memory (UDM) card. Also included are: MX-20 HD Electro-Optical and 
Infrared systems, Osprey 50 AESA Radars, AISREW equipment, secure 
communications equipment, and Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) 
Systems. These systems will be installed on up to five (5) G-550 
aircraft.

    Major Defense Equipment (MDE):
Eight (8) GLTA AN/AAQ-24 (V)N (5 installed and 3 spares)
Twenty-nine (29) IRMWS (25 installed and 4 spares)
Six (6) LSPR AN/AAQ-24 (V)N (5 installed and 1 spare)
Six (6) Embedded/GPS/INS (EGI) with GPS Security Devices, Airborne (5 
installed and 1 spare)
Seven (7) Multifunctional Information Distribution Systems--Joint 
Tactical Radio System (MIDS JTRS) (5 installed and 2 spares)

    Non-MDE includes:
    Also included in this sale are up to five (5) G-550 Aircraft, 
CIURs, SCAs, HCCs and UDM cards, AN/ALE-47 Countermeasure Dispenser 
Sets (CMDS), MX-20HD Electro-Optical and Infra-Red systems, Osprey 50 
AESA Radars, AISREW ISR equipment, Secure Communications equipment, 
Identification Friend or Foe Systems, aircraft modification and 
integration, ground systems for data processing and crew training, 
ground support equipment, publications and technical data, U.S. 
Government and contractor engineering, technical and logistics support 
services, flight test and certification, and other related elements of 
logistical and program support.
    (iv) Military Department: Air Force (QCS)
    (v) Prior Related Cases, if any: AT-D-SAA & AT-D-GCA
    (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: 23 JUN 2017
    * As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control Act.

POLICY JUSTIFICATION

Australia--Gulfstream G550 Aircraft with Airborne Intelligence, 
Surveillance, Reconnaissance, and Electronic Warfare (AISREW) Mission 
Systems

    The Government of Australia requested the possible sale of up to 
five (5) Gulfstream G-550 aircraft modified to integrate Airborne 
Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance, and Electronic Warfare 
(AISREW) mission systems, Global Positioning System (GPS) capability, 
secure communications, aircraft defensive systems; spares, including 
whole life costs of airborne and ground segments; aircraft modification 
and integration; ground systems for data processing and crew training; 
ground support equipment; publications and technical data; U.S. 
Government and contractor engineering, technical and logistics support 
services; flight test and certification; and other related elements of 
logistical and program support. The total estimated program cost is 
$1.3 billion.
    This 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 Western Pacific. Australia is an important Major 
non-NATO Ally and partner that contributes significantly to 
peacekeeping and humanitarian operations around the world. It is vital 
to the U.S. national interest to assist our ally in developing and 
maintaining a strong and ready self-defense capability.
    The proposed sale supports and complements the ongoing efforts of 
Australia to modernize its Electronic Warfare capability and increases 
interoperability between the U.S. Air Force and the Royal Australian 
Air Force (RAAF). Australia will have no difficulty absorbing this 
equipment into its armed forces.
    The proposed sale of this equipment does not alter the basic 
military balance in the region.
    The prime contractors will be L3 of Greenville, TX. There are no 
known offset agreements proposed in connection with this potential 
sale.
    Implementation of this proposed sale may require the assignment of 
up to six (6) U.S. contractor representatives to Australia.
    There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a 
result of this proposed sale.
Transmittal No. 17-12
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. This sale will involve the release of sensitive technology to 
Australia. Sensitive and/or classified (up to SECRET) elements of the 
proposed sale include the AN/AAQ-24 (V)N Large Aircraft Infrared 
Countermeasures (LAIRCM) systems, Embedded/GPS/INS (EGI) with security 
devices, Airborne, Multifunctional Information Distribution Systems--
Joint Tactical Radio System (MIDS JTRS), AN/ALE-47 Countermeasure 
Dispenser Set (CMDS), MX-20HD Electro-Optical and Infra-Red systems, 
Osprey 50 AESA Radars, and Airborne Intelligence, Surveillance, 
Reconnaissance and Electronic (AISREW) mission system.
    2. The AN/AAQ-24 (V)N LAIRCM is a self-contained, directed energy 
countermeasures system designed to protect aircraft from infrared (IR)-
guided surface-to-air missiles. The system features digital technology 
and micro-miniature solid state electronics. The system operates in all 
conditions, detecting incoming missiles and jamming infrared-seeker 
equipped missiles with aimed bursts of laser energy. The LAIRCM system 
consists of multiple Infrared Missile Warning System (IRMWS) Sensors, 
Guardian Laser Turret Assembly (GLTA), LAIRCM System Processor 
Replacement (LSPR), Control Indicator Unit Replacement

[[Page 32796]]

(CIUR), and a classified High Capacity Card (HCC), and User Data Memory 
(UDM) card. The HCC is loaded into the CIUR prior to flight. When the 
classified HCC is not in use, it is removed from the CIUR and placed in 
onboard secure storage. LAIRCM Line Replaceable Unit (LRU) hardware is 
classified SECRET when the HCC is inserted into the CIUR. LAIRCM system 
software, including Operational Flight Program is classified SECRET. 
Technical data and documentation to be provided are UNCLASSIFIED.
    The set of IRMWS Sensor units are mounted on the aircraft exterior 
to provide omni-directional protection. The IRMWS Sensor warns of 
threat missile approach by detecting radiation associated with the 
rocket motor. The IRMWS is a small, lightweight, passive, electro-
optic, threat warning device used to detect surface-to-air missiles 
fired at helicopters and low-flying fixed-wing aircraft and 
automatically provides countermeasures, as well as audio and visual 
warning messages to the aircrew. The basic system consists of multiple 
IRMWS Sensor units, one (1) GLTA, LSPR and CIUR. The set of IRMWS units 
(each A-330 MRTT has five (5)) mounted on the aircraft exterior to 
provide omni-directional protection. Hardware is UNCLASSIFIED. Software 
is SECRET. Technical data and documentation to be provided are 
UNCLASSIFIED.
    3. Multifunctional Information Distribution System-Joint Tactical 
Radio System (MIDS JTRS) is an advanced Link-16 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 JTRS terminal hardware, 
publications, performance specifications, operational capability, 
parameters, vulnerabilities to countermeasures, and software 
documentation are classified CONFIDENTIAL. The classified information 
to be provided consists of that which is necessary for the operation, 
maintenance, and repair (through intermediate level) of the data link 
terminal, installed systems, and related software.
    4. The AN/ALE-47 Countermeasure Dispenser Set (CMDS) provides an 
integrated threat-adaptive, computer controlled capability for 
dispensing chaff, flares, and active radio frequency expendables. The 
AN/ALE-47 system enhances aircraft survivability in sophisticated 
threat environments.
    The threats countered by the CMDS include radar-directed anti-
aircraft artillery (AAA), radar command-guided missiles, radar homing 
guided missiles, and infrared (IR) guided missiles. The system is 
internally mounted and may be operated as a stand-alone system or may 
be integrated with other on-board Electronic Warfare (EW) and avionics 
systems. The AN/ALE-47 uses threat data received over the aircraft 
interfaces to assess the threat situation and determine a response. 
Expendable routines tailored to the immediate aircraft and threat 
environment may be dispensed using one of four operational modes. 
Hardware is UNCLASSIFIED. Software is SECRET. Technical data and 
documentation to be provided is UNCLASSIFIED.
    5. The Embedded GPS-INS (EGI) LN-200 is a sensor that combines GPS 
and inertial sensor inputs to provide accurate location information for 
navigation and targeting. The EGI LN-200 is UNCLASSIFIED. The GPS 
crypto-variable keys needed for the highest GPS accuracy are classified 
up to SECRET.
    6. Wescam MX-20HD is a gyro-stabilized, multi-spectral, multi-field 
of view Electro-Optical/Infrared (EO/IR) system. The systems provide 
surveillance laser illumination and laser designation through use of an 
externally mounted turret sensor unit and internally mounted master 
control. Sensor video imagery is displayed in the aircraft real time 
and may be recorded for subsequent ground analysis. Hardware is 
UNCLASSIFED. Technical data and documentation to be provided is 
UNCLASSIFIED.
    7. The Osprey family of surveillance radars provides second 
generation Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) surveillance 
capability as the primary sensor on airborne assets. The Osprey radars 
are at a high technology readiness level and are in production for 
fixed and rotary wing applications. This Osprey configuration employs a 
side-looking radar. Osprey radars provide a genuine multi-domain 
capability, with high performance sea surveillance, notably against 
``difficult targets, land surveillance with wide swath, very high 
resolution ground mapping small and low speed ground target indication, 
high performance air to air surveillance, tracking and intercept.
    8. The AISREW mission system provides near-real-time information to 
tactical forces, combatant commanders and national-level authorities 
across the spectrum of conflict. The mission system can forward 
gathered information in a variety of formats via secured communications 
systems. Most hardware used in this AISREW system is generic and 
commercially available. However, if any of the specialized hardware or 
publications are lost, the information could provide insight into many 
critical U.S. capabilities. Information gained could be used to develop 
countermeasures as well as offensive and defensive counter-tactics.
    9. If a technologically advanced adversary were to obtain knowledge 
of the specific hardware and software elements, the information could 
be used to develop countermeasures or equivalent system which might 
reduce system effectiveness or be used in the development of a system 
with similar or advanced capabilities.
    10. A determination has been made that Australia 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.
    11. All defense articles and services listed in this transmittal 
have been authorized for release and export to Australia.

[FR Doc. 2017-15008 Filed 7-17-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 5001-06-P