[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 11 (Wednesday, January 17, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2430-2433]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-00667]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Office of the Secretary

[Transmittal No. 17-50]


Arms Sales Notification

AGENCY: Defense Security Cooperation Agency, Department of Defense.

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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 17-50 with 
attached Policy Justification and Sensitivity of Technology.

    Dated: January 11, 2018.
Aaron Siegel,
Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.
BILLING CODE 5001-06-P
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN17JA18.000


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BILLING CODE 5001-06-C
Transmittal No. 17-50
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 Oman
    (ii) Total Estimated Value:

Major Defense Equipment *...............................     $ 0 million
Other...................................................     $62 million
                                                         ---------------
    Total...............................................     $62 million
 

    (iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or 
Services under Consideration for Purchase: The Government of Oman has 
requested a possible sale of items and services to support an 
incremental Operational Flight Profile (OFP) software upgrade for F-16 
subsystems, as well as Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) and secure 
communications equipment for Mode 5 operations, on twenty-three (23) F-
16 aircraft.
    Major Defense Equipment (MDE): None
    Non-MDE includes:
    Non-MDE items and services consist of twenty-nine (29) KIV-78 
cryptographic/timing modules (twenty-three (23) installed and six (6) 
spares); twenty-nine (29) KY-100M cryptographic radio encryptors 
(twenty-three (23) installed and six (6) spares); twenty-nine (29) AN/
APX-126 Combined Interrogator Transponders (twenty-three (23) installed 
and six (6) spares); Classified and Unclassified Computer Program 
Identification Numbers (CPINS) upgrades; OFP upgrades for IFF Mode 5 
capable systems; Joint Mission Planning (JMPS) upgrade; Sniper Advanced 
Targeting Pod software, service support, support equipment, spares, and 
training; systems support and test equipment; spare and repair parts; 
publications and technical documentation; training and training 
equipment; U.S. Government and contractor engineering; logistics and 
technical support services; and other related elements of logistics and 
program support.
    (iv) Military Department: Air Force (MU-D-QAR)
    (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: January 5, 2018

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

POLICY JUSTIFICATION

Oman--F-16 Operational Flight Profile and Identification Friend or Foe 
Mode 5 Upgrade

    The Government of Oman has requested a possible sale of items and 
services to support an incremental Operational Flight Profile (OFP) 
software upgrade for F-16 subsystems, as well as Identification Friend 
or Foe (IFF) and secure communications equipment for Mode 5 operations 
on twenty-three (23) F-16 aircraft. Non-MDE items and services consist 
of twenty-nine (29) KIV-78 cryptographic/timing modules (twenty-three 
(23) installed and six (6) spares); twenty-nine (29) KY-100M 
cryptographic radio encryptors (twenty-three (23) installed and six (6) 
spares); twenty-nine (29) AN/APX-126 Combined Interrogator Transponders 
(twenty-three (23) installed and six (6) spares); Classified and 
Unclassified Computer Program Identification Numbers (CPINS) upgrades; 
OFP upgrades for IFF Mode 5 capable systems, Joint Mission Planning 
(JMPS) upgrade; Sniper Advanced Targeting Pod software, service 
support, support equipment, spares, and training; systems support and 
test equipment; spare and repair parts; publications and technical 
documentation; training and training equipment; U.S. Government and 
contractor engineering; logistics and technical support services; and 
other related elements of logistics and program support. The estimated 
cost is $62 million.
    This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national 
security objectives of the United States by helping to improve the 
security of a friendly country which has been, and continues to be, an 
important force for political stability and economic progress in the 
Middle East.
    The proposed sale allows the U.S. military to support the Royal Air 
Force of Oman, further strengthen the U.S.-Omani military-to-military 
relationship, and ensure continued interoperability of forces and 
opportunities for bilateral training and exercises with Oman's military 
forces.
    This proposed sale of items and services will enable Oman's twenty-
three (23) F-16s currently using Mode 4 IFF to become interoperable on 
Mode 4/5. Mode 5 IFF allows U.S. and partner airborne and surface armed 
forces to conduct complimentary air operations. Incremental OFP 
software upgrades required to support Mode 5 will provide additional 
incremental improvement for other associated F-16 subsystems. Oman will 
have no difficulty in absorbing these upgrades into its F-16 fleet.
    This proposed sale of equipment and support will not alter the 
basic military balance in the region.
    The prime contractor will be Lockheed Martin of Fort Worth, Texas. 
There are no known offset agreements proposed in conjunction with this 
potential sale.
    The proposed sale will not require the long-term assignment of any 
additional U.S. Government or contractor representatives to Oman.
    There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a 
result of this proposed sale.
Transmittal No. 17-50
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 proposed sale of items and services to upgrade Oman's F-16 
aircraft will involve the release of sensitive technology related to 
the Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) and secure communications 
equipment.
    2. The AN/APX-126 Combined Interrogator Transponder is an IFF dual 
Mode 4 and 5 capable system. It is UNCLASSIFIED unless/until Mode 4 
and/or Mode 5 operational evaluator parameters are loaded into the 
equipment, which are classified up to SECRET. Classified elements of 
the IFF system include software object code, operating characteristics, 
parameters, and technical data. Mode 4 and Mode 5 anti-jam performance 
specifications/data, software source code, algorithms, and tempest 
plans or reports will not be offered, released, discussed, or 
demonstrated.
    3. KIV-78 is a crypto appliqu[eacute] for Mode 5 IFF. The hardware 
is UNCLASSIFIED unless loaded with Mode 4 and/or Mode 5 classified 
elements, which are classified up to SECRET.
    4. KY-100M is a cryptographic encryptor for voice radios to provide 
secure communication capabilities. The hardware is UNCLASSIFIED unless 
loaded with cryptograph keys, which are classified up to SECRET.
    5. Joint Mission Planning System (JMPS) is a multi-platform, PC-
based mission planning system. JMPS hardware is UNCLASSIFIED, but the 
software is classified up to SECRET.
    6. If a technologically advanced adversary were to obtain knowledge 
of the specific hardware and software elements, the information could 
be used

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to develop countermeasures that might reduce weapon system 
effectiveness or be used in the development of a system with similar or 
advanced capabilities.
    7. A determination has been made that Oman 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.
    8. All defense articles and services listed in this transmittal are 
authorized for release and export to the Government of Oman.

[FR Doc. 2018-00667 Filed 1-16-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 5001-06-P