[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 187 (Thursday, September 28, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45277-45280]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-20719]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Office of the Secretary

[Transmittal No. 16-60]


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 16-60 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. 16-60
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 Bahrain
    (ii) Total Estimated Value:

Major Defense Equipment *...............................  $2.095 billion
Other...................................................  $0.690 billion
                                                         ---------------
  Total.................................................  $2.785 billion
 

    (iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or 
Services under Consideration for Purchase:
    Major Defense Equipment (MDE):
Nineteen (19) F-16V Aircraft
Nineteen (19) M61 Vulcan 20mm Gun Systems
Twenty-two (22) F-16V F-110-GE-129 Engines (includes 3 spares)
Twenty-two (22) APG-83 Active Electronically Scanned Array Radars 
(includes 3 spares)
Twenty-two (22) Modular Mission Computers (includes 3 spares)
Twenty-two (22) Embedded Global Navigation Systems/LN260 EGI (includes 
3 spares)
Twenty-two (22) Improved Programmable Display Generators (iPDG) 
(includes 3 spares)
Thirty-eight (38) LAU-129 Launchers
    Non-MDE include:
Nineteen (19) AN/ALQ-211 AIDEWS Systems, thirty-eight (38) LAU-118A 
Launchers, forty-two (42) AN/ARC-238 SINCGARS Radio or equivalent, 
twenty-two (22) AN/APX-126 Advanced Identification Friend or Foe (AIFF) 
system or equivalent, twenty-two (22) cryptographic appliques, secure 
communication equipment, spares and repair parts, personnel training 
and training equipment, simulators, publications and technical 
documentation, U.S. Government and contractor technical support 
services, containers, missile support and test equipment, original 
equipment manufacturer integration and test, U.S. Government and 
contractor technical support and training services, site survey, 
design, construction studies/analysis/services, associated operations/
maintenance/training/support facilities, cybersecurity, critical 
computer resources support, force protection and other related elements 
of logistics and program support.
    (iv) Military Department: Air Force (X7-D-SAB)
    (v) Prior Related Cases, if any:
FMS Case BA-D-SGA--$330,927,474--21 Apr 87
FMS Case BA-D-SGG--$234,879,152--20 Feb 98
    (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: September 8, 2017
    * As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control Act.

POLICY JUSTIFICATION

Government of Bahrain--F-16V Aircraft with Support

    The Government of Bahrain has requested a possible sale of nineteen 
(19) F-16V Aircraft; nineteen (19) M61 Vulcan 20mm Gun Systems; twenty-
two (22) F-16V F-110-GE-129 Engines (includes 3 spares); twenty-two 
(22) APG-83 Active Electronically Scanned Array Radars (includes 3 
spares); twenty-two (22) Modular Mission Computers (includes 3 spares); 
twenty-two (22) Embedded Global Navigation Systems/LN260 EGI (includes 
3 spares); twenty-two (22) Improved Programmable Display Generators 
(iPDG) (includes 3 spares); and thirty-eight (38) LAU-129 Launchers. 
This sale also includes nineteen (19) AN/ALQ-211 AIDEWS Systems, 
thirty-eight (38) LAU-118A Launchers, forty-two (42) AN/ARC-238 
SINCGARS Radio or equivalent, twenty-two (22) AN/APX-126 Advanced 
Identification Friend or Foe (AIFF) system or equivalent, twenty-two 
(22) cryptographic appliques, secure communication equipment, spares 
and repair parts, personnel training and training equipment, 
simulators, publications and technical documentation, U.S. Government 
and contractor technical support services, containers, missile support 
and test equipment, original equipment manufacturer integration and 
test, U.S. Government and contractor technical support and training 
services, site survey, design, construction studies/analysis/services, 
associated operations/maintenance/training/support facilities, 
cybersecurity, critical computer resources support, force protection 
and other related elements of logistics and program support. The total 
estimated program cost is $2.785 billion.
    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. Our mutual defense 
interests anchor our relationship and the Royal Bahraini Air Force 
(RBAF) plays a significant role in Bahrain's defense.
    The proposed sale improves Bahrain's capability to meet current and 
future threats. Bahrain will use the capability as a deterrent to 
regional threats and to strengthen its homeland defense. This purchase 
of F-16Vs will improve interoperability with United States and other 
regional allies. Bahrain employs 20 older F-16 Block 40s and will have 
no difficulty absorbing these aircraft into its armed forces.
    The proposed sale of these aircraft will not alter the basic 
military balance in the region.
    The prime contractor will be Lockheed Martin. There are no know 
offset agreements proposed in connection with this potential sale.
    Implementation of this proposed sale will require the assignment of 
at least ten (10) additional U.S. Government representatives and 
approximately seventy-five (75) contractor representatives to Bahrain.
    There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a 
result of this proposed sale.
Transmittal No. 16-60
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 involves the release of sensitive technology to 
Bahrain. The F-16C/D Block V weapon system is unclassified, except as 
noted below. The aircraft uses the F-16 airframe and features advanced 
avionics and systems. It contains the General Electric F-110-129 
engine, AN/APG-83 radar, digital flight control system, internal and 
external electronic warfare (EW) equipment, Advanced Identification 
Friend or Foe (AIFF), operational flight trainer, and software computer 
programs.
    2. Sensitive or classified (up to SECRET) elements of the proposed 
F-16V include hardware, accessories, components, and associated 
software: AN/APG-83 AESA Radars, Modular Mission Computers, Advanced 
Identification Friend or Foe (AIFF), cryptographic appliques, Embedded 
Global Positioning System/Inertial Navigation System, Modular Mission 
Computer (MMC), AN/ALQ-211 AIDEWS Systems, LAU-129 Launchers, Modular 
Mission Computers, and Improved Programmable Display Generators 
(iPDGs). Additional sensitive areas include operating manuals and 
maintenance technical orders containing performance information, 
operating and test procedures, and other information related to support 
operations and repair. The hardware,

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software, and data identified are classified to protect 
vulnerabilities, design and performance parameters and other similar 
critical information.
    3. The AN/APG-83 is an Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) 
radar upgrade for the F-16V. It includes higher processor power, higher 
transmission power, more sensitive receiver electronics, and synthetic 
aperture radar (SAR), which creates higher-resolution ground maps from 
a greater distance than existing mechanically scanned array radars 
(e.g., APG-68). The upgrade features an increase in detection range of 
air targets, increases in processing speed and memory, as well as 
significant improvements in all modes. The highest classification of 
the radar is SECRET.
    4. AN/ALQ-211 Airborne Integrated Defensive Electronic Warfare 
Suite (AIDEWS) System provides passive radar warning, wide spectrum RF 
jamming, and control and management of the entire EW system. 
Commercially developed system software and hardware is UNCLASSIFIED. 
The system is classified SECRET when loaded with a U.S. derived EW 
database, which will be provided.
    5. The secure voice communications radio system is considered 
unclassified, but may employ cryptographic technology that is 
classified SECRET. Classified elements include operating 
characteristics, parameters, technical data, and keying material.
    6. An Advanced Identification Friend or Foe (AIFF) is a system 
capable of transmitting and interrogating Mode V. It is UNCLASSIFIED 
unless Mode IV or Mode V operational evaluator parameters are loaded 
into the equipment that is classified SECRET. Classified elements of 
the AIFF system include software object code, operating 
characteristics, parameters, and technical data.
    7. The Embedded GPS-INS (EGI) LN-260 is a sensor that combines GPS 
and inertial sensor inputs to provide accurate location information for 
navigation and targeting. The EGI LN-260 is UNCLASSIFIED. The GPS 
crypto-variable keys needed for highest GPS accuracy are classified up 
to SECRET.
    8. The LAU-129 Guided Missile Launcher is capable of launching a 
single AIM-9 (Sidewinder) family of missile or a single AIM-120 
Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM). The LAU-129 provides 
mechanical and electrical interface between missile and aircraft. The 
LAU-129 system is UNCLASSIFIED.
    9. The Modular Mission Computer (MMC) is the central computer for 
the F-16. As such it serves as the hub for all aircraft subsystems, 
avionics, and weapons. The hardware and software (Operational Flight 
Program--OFP) are classified up to SECRET.
    10. An Improved Programmable Display Generator (iPDG) will support 
the two color MFD's, allowing the pilot to set up to twelve display 
programs. One of them includes a color Horizontal Situation Display, 
which will provide the pilot with a God's eye view of the tactical 
situation. Inside is a 20MHz, 32-bit Intel 80960 Display Processor and 
a 256K battery-backed RAM system memory. The color graphics controller 
is based on the T.I. TMS34020 Raster Graphics Chipset. The iPDG also 
contains substantial growth capabilities including a high-speed 
Ethernet interface (10/100BaseT) and all the hardware necessary to 
support digital moving maps. The digital map function can be enabled by 
the addition of software. The hardware and software are UNCLASSIFIED.
    11. M61A1 20mm Vulcan Cannon: The 20mm Vulcan cannon is a six 
barreled automatic cannon chambered in 20x120mm with a cyclic rate of 
fire from 2,500-6,000 shots per minute. This weapon is a hydraulically 
powered air cooled Gatlin gun used to damage/destroy aerial targets, 
suppress/incapacitate personnel targets, and damage or destroy moving 
and stationary light materiel targets. The M61Al and its components are 
UNCLASSIFIED.
    12. Software, hardware, and other data or information, which is 
classified or sensitive, is reviewed prior to release to protect system 
vulnerabilities, design data, and performance parameters. Some end-item 
hardware, software, and other data identified above are classified at 
the CONFIDENTIAL and SECRET level. Potential compromise of these 
systems is controlled through management of the basic software programs 
of highly sensitive systems and software-controlled weapon systems on a 
case-by-case basis.
    13. If a technologically advanced adversary were to obtain 
knowledge of the specific hardware or software source code in this 
proposed sale, the information could be used to develop countermeasures 
which might reduce weapon system effectiveness or be used in the 
development of systems with similar or advance capabilities.
    14. 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, outweigh the potential damage 
that could result if the sensitive technology were revealed to 
unauthorized persons.
    15. A determination has been made that the recipient country 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.
    16. All defense articles and services listed in this transmittal 
are authorized for release and export to the Government of Bahrain.

[FR Doc. 2017-20719 Filed 9-27-17; 8:45 am]
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