[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 207 (Friday, October 27, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 49792-49794]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-23411]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Office of the Secretary

[Transmittal No. 17-16]


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 17-16 with 
attached Policy Justification and Sensitivity of Technology.

    Dated: October 24, 2017.
Aaron Siegel,
Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.
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[[Page 49793]]

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[[Page 49794]]


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Transmittal No. 17-16
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 Kuwait
    (ii) Total Estimated Value:

 
 
 
 
Major Defense Equipment *................  $27 million
Other....................................  $ 2 million
                                          ------------------------------
  Total..................................  $29 million
 

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

Two hundred eighteen (218) M1A1 Abrams Tank Hulls with 120mm cannons
Two hundred eighteen (218) AGT-1500 (M1 Tank Series) Engines

    Non-MDE:
    Also includes transportation and other logistics support.
    (iv) Military Department: Army (UXA)
    (v) Prior Related Cases, if any: KU-B-JAT, KU-B-UKO, KU-B-UKN, KU-
B-ULB, KU-B-ULX, KU-B-UMK
    (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: October 16, 2017

    *As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control Act.

POLICY JUSTIFICATION

Kuwait--M1A1 Abrams Tanks

    The Government of Kuwait has requested a possible sale of two 
hundred eighteen (218) M1A1 Abrams tank hulls with 120mm cannons and 
two hundred eighteen (218) AGT-1500 (M1 Tank Series) engines in support 
of its M1A2 tank recapitalization. Also included are transportation and 
other logistics support. The estimated cost is $29 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 friendly country. Kuwait plays a large role in U.S. 
efforts to advance stability in the Middle East, providing basing, 
access, and transit for U.S. forces in the region.
    This potential sale is associated with Congressional Notification 
16-66 which was notified to Congress on December 12, 2016, regarding 
recapitalization of 218 Kuwait M1A2 tanks. Subsequent to the 
notification, Kuwait requested 218 M1A1 tank hulls from U.S. inventory 
be provided and upgraded vice using Kuwait's current fleet of tanks due 
to its interest in maintaining operational readiness. Kuwait 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 M1A1 tank hulls will come from U.S. inventory. There are no 
known offset agreements 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 Kuwait.
    There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a 
result of this proposed sale.
Transmittal No. 17-16
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. 120mm Gun. The gun is composed of a 120mm smoothbore gun 
(cannon) manufactured at Watervliet Arsenal; ``long rod'' Armor-
piercing fin-stabilized discarding-sabot (APFSDS) warheads; and 
combustible cartridge case ammunition. There may be a need to procure/
produce new gun cannon tubes from Watervliet Arsenal. New cannons 
inducted at Anniston Army Depot would be inspected according to 
established criteria and shipped to Lima Army Tank Plant for the tank 
upgrade process. The highest level of information that could be 
disclosed through the sale of this end-item is UNCLASSIFIED.
    2. AGT-1500 Gas Turbine Propulsion System. The use of a gas turbine 
propulsion system in the M1A2 is a unique application of armored 
vehicle power pack technology. The hardware is composed of the AGT-1500 
engine and transmission and is not classified. Manufacturing processes 
associated with the production of turbine blades, recuperator, bearings 
and shafts, and hydrostatic pump and motor are proprietary and 
therefore commercially competition sensitive. The highest level of 
information that could be disclosed through the sale of this end-item 
is UNCLASSIFIED.
    3. All defense articles and services listed on this transmittal are 
authorized for release and export to the Government of Kuwait.

[FR Doc. 2017-23411 Filed 10-26-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 5001-06-P