[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 204 (Tuesday, October 24, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 49192-49194]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-22980]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Office of the Secretary

[Transmittal No. 17-45]


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 17-45 with 
attached Policy Justification and Sensitivity of Technology.

    Dated: October 18, 2017.
Aaron Siegel,
Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.
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[[Page 49193]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN24OC17.004

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Transmittal No. 17-45
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 million
Other...................................................    $360 million
                                                         ---------------
  TOTAL.................................................    $360 million
 

    (iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or 
Services under Consideration for Purchase:
    Major Defense Equipment (MDE): None
    Non-MDE includes:
    Ten-year upgrade program for twenty-four (24) MH-60R Multi-Mission 
Helicopters and associated training devices, spare and repair parts, 
support and test equipment, engineering and technical services, U.S. 
Government and contractor engineering, technical and logistics support 
services, Engineering Change Proposals (ECPs), ECPs for

[[Page 49194]]

training devices, classified software (JMPS/MDLs), Engineering 
Technical Assistance (ETA), Logistics Technical Assistance (LTA), Other 
Technical Assistance (OTA), supply support, support equipment, and 
other related elements of logistics and program support.
    (iv) Military Department: Navy (AT-P-GRS)
    (v) Prior Related Cases, if any: AT-P-GXO, AT-P-SCF, AT-P-GTC
    (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: August 30, 2017.
    * As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control Act.

POLICY JUSTIFICATION

Australia--Upgrade Program for (24) MH-60R Multi-Mission Helicopters

    The Government of Australia has requested a follow-on case for a 
possible ten-year upgrade program for twenty-four (24) MH-60R Multi-
Mission Helicopters and associated training devices, spare and repair 
parts, support and test equipment, engineering and technical services, 
U.S. Government and contractor engineering, technical and logistics 
support services, Engineering Change Proposals (ECPs), ECPs for 
training devices, classified software (JMPS/MDLs), Engineering 
Technical Assistance (ETA), Logistics Technical Assistance (LTA), Other 
Technical Assistance (OTA), supply support, support equipment, and 
other related elements of logistics and program support. The total 
estimated program cost is $360 million.
    This sale will support the foreign policy and national security of 
the United States by helping to improve the security of a major non-
NATO ally that continues to be an important force for political 
stability and economic progress in the Western Pacific. 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 upgrades to the MH-60R helicopters will improve 
Australia's antisubmarine and surface warfare capability, provide an 
improved search and rescue capability, enhance its anti-ship 
surveillance capability, and will help it carry out international 
commitments for transport, surveillance, and search and rescue 
operations with the United States and other allies. The proposed 
upgrades will also provide Australia the resources necessary to 
properly maintain its multi-mission helicopters. Australia 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 Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin 
Company, Stratford, CT and Lockheed Martin, Owego, NY. There are no 
offsets proposed 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 Australia.
    There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a 
result of this proposed sale.
Transmittal No. 17-45
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. The Commonwealth of Australia requirement for spiral upgrades to 
the twenty-four (24) Multi-Mission MH-60R Helicopters could include:

a. Mission Capability Areas: Surface Warfare/Surveillance/Flight 
Management, Navigation & Communication/Data Management & Fusion
b. Mission Capability Areas: Anti-Submarine Warfare/Flight Management, 
Navigation & Communication
c. Mission Capability Areas: Flight Management, Navigation & 
Communication/Data Management & Fusion
d. Mission Capability Areas: Flight Management, Navigation & 
Communication/Data Management & Fusion/Air Vehicle Service Life
e. Mission Capability Areas for Development: Kinematic Performance/
Airborne Survivability
f. Mission Capability Areas for Development: Obsolescence Management
g. Mission Capability Areas: Surveillance/Data Management & Data/Air 
Vehicle Service Life
h. Software Lab
i. USN Test Maintenance Cost

    2. The spiral development case may contain sensitive technology; 
however, defined requirements are not known at this time and will be 
assessed on a case by case basis.
    3. 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.
    4. All defense articles and services listed in this transmittal 
have been authorized for release and export to Australia.

[FR Doc. 2017-22980 Filed 10-23-17; 8:45 am]
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