[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 186 (Wednesday, September 27, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45005-45008]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-20700]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Office of the Secretary

[Transmittal No. 16-35]


Arms Sales Notification

AGENCY: Defense Security Cooperation Agency, Department of Defense.

ACTION: Arms sales notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Defense is publishing the unclassified text 
of an arms sales notification.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Pamela Young, (703) 697-9107, 
[email protected] or Kathy Valadez, (703) 697-9217, 
[email protected]; 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 16-35 with 
attached Policy Justification and Sensitivity of Technology.

    Dated: September 22, 2017.
Aaron Siegel,
Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.

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Transmittal No. 16-35
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 Kingdom of Bahrain
    (ii) Total Estimated Value:

Major Defense Equipment *...............  $21 million
Other...................................  $ 6 million
                                         -------------------------------
  Total.................................  $27 million
 

    (iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or 
Services under Consideration for Purchase:
    Major Defense Equipment (MDE):

One-hundred and seven (107) TOW 2A, Radio Frequency (RF) Missiles (BGM-
71-4B-RF)
Seventy-seven (77) TOW 2B Aero, RF Missiles (BGM-71F-Series)
Thirty-seven (37) TOW Bunker Buster (BB), RF Missiles (BGM-71-Fl-RF)

    Non-MDE: This request also includes the following Non-MDE: 
Government Technical Support/Logistical Support, Contractor Technical 
Support, and other associated equipment and services.
    (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: September 8, 2017
    * As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control Act.

POLICY JUSTIFICATION

Bahrain--TOW 2ARF Missile (BGM-71-4B-RF), TOW 2B RF Missiles (BGM-71F-
Series), TOW BB RF Missiles (BGM-71-F1 RF)

    The Government of Bahrain has requested:
    Major Defense Equipment (MDE):

One-hundred and seven (107) TOW 2A, Radio Frequency (RF) Missiles (BGM-
71-4B-RF)
Seventy-seven (77) TOW 2B Aero, RF Missiles (BGM-71F-Series)
Thirty-seven (37) TOW Bunker Buster (BB), RF Missiles (BGM-71-Fl-RF)

    Non-MDE: The request also includes the following Non-MDE: 
Government Technical Support/Logistical Support, Contractor Technical 
Support, and other associated equipment and services.
    The estimated value of MDE is $21 million. The total overall 
estimated value is $27 million.
    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 Non-NATO ally, which has been and continues to be 
an important security partner in the region.
    The proposed sale of TOW 2A, TOW 2B, TOW BB missiles, and technical 
support will advance Bahrain's efforts to develop an integrated ground 
defense capability. Bahrain will use the capability as a deterrent to 
regional threats and to strengthen its homeland defense. This sale will 
also improve interoperability with United States and regional allies. 
Bahrain will have no difficulty absorbing this equipment into its armed 
forces.
    The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the 
basic military balance in the region.
    The principal contractor will be Raytheon Missile Systems, Tucson, 
Arizona. There are no known offset agreements proposed in connection 
with this potential sale.
    Implementation of this proposed sale will require the U.S. 
Government or contractor representatives to travel to Bahrain for 
multiple periods for equipment de-processing/fielding, system checkout 
and new equipment training. There will be no more than two contractor 
personnel in Bahrain at any one time and all efforts will take less 
than two weeks in total.
    There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a 
result of this proposed sale.
Transmittal No. 16-35
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 Radio Frequency (RF) TOW 2A Missile (BGM-71E-4B-RF) is a 
direct-attack missile designed to defeat armored vehicles, reinforced 
urban structures, field fortifications and other such targets. TOW 
missiles are fired from a variety of TOW launchers used by the U.S. 
Army, U.S. Marine Corps, and Foreign Military Sales (FMS) customers. 
The TOW 2A RF missile can be launched from the same launcher platforms 
as the existing wire-guided TOW 2A missile without modification to the 
launcher. The TOW 2A missile (both wire & RF) contains two tracker 
beacons for the launcher to track and guide the missile in flight. 
Guidance commands from the launcher are provided to the missile by a RF 
link contained within the missile case. The hardware, software, and 
technical publications to be provided with the sale are UNCLASSIFIED. 
The highest level of classified information authorized for released 
through the sale of the TOW 2A is SECRET.
    2. The RF TOW 2B Aero Missile (BGM-71 F-3-RF) is a fly-over-
shootdown missile designed to defeat armored vehicles. TOW missiles are 
fired from a variety of TOW Launchers in the inventories of the U.S. 
Army, the U.S. Marine Corps, and Foreign Military Sales (FMS) 
customers. The TOW 2B Aero RF missile can be launched from the same 
launcher platforms as wire-guided TOW 2B and TOW 2B Aero missiles 
without modification to the launcher. The TOW 2B missile (both wire-
guided & RF) contains two tracker beacons for the launcher to track and 
guide the missile in flight. Guidance commands from the launcher are 
provided to the missile by an RF link contained within the missile 
case. The hardware and technical publications to be provided with the 
sale are UNCLASSIFIED. Software algorithms for the system are 
classified SECRET. The highest level of classified information released 
through the sale of the TOW 2B is SECRET.
    3. The RF TOW Bunker Buster (BB), BGM-71-Fl-RF is a variant of the 
TOW 2A that replaces the TOW 2A warhead with a high explosive blast-
fragmentation warhead. This bulk charge warhead is effective against 
reinforced concrete walls, light armored vehicles, and earth and timber 
bunkers. Guidance commands from the launcher are provided to the 
missile by an RF link contained within the missile case. The hardware, 
software, and technical publications to be provided with the sale are 
UNCLASSIFIED. The highest level of classified information released 
through the sale of the TOW 2B is SECRET.
    4. If a technologically advanced adversary were to obtain knowledge 
of the specific hardware and software elements of these variants, the 
information could be used to develop countermeasures that might reduce 
weapon system effectiveness or be used in the development of a system 
with similar or advanced capabilities.
    5. A determination has been made by the U.S. Government that the 
Government of Bahrain 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.
    6. All defense articles and services listed in this transmittal 
have been

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authorized for release and export to the Government of Bahrain.

[FR Doc. 2017-20700 Filed 9-26-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 5001-06-P