[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 33 (Friday, February 16, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7018-7020]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-03190]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

[Transmittal No. 17-77]


Arms Sales Notification

AGENCY: Defense Security Cooperation Agency, Department of Defense 
(DoD).

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 17-77 with 
attached Policy Justification and Sensitivity of Technology.

    Dated: February 12, 2018.
Aaron Siegel,
Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.
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Transmittal No. 17-77
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 Finland
    (ii) Total Estimated Value:

Major Defense Equipment*..............................    $ 92.6 million
Other.................................................    $ 20.1 million
                                                       -----------------
    Total.............................................    $112.7 million
 

    (iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or 
Services under Consideration for Purchase:
    Major Defense Equipment (MDE):
Sixty-eight (68) Evolved SEASPARROW Missiles (ESSM)
One (1) ESSM inert operational missile
    Non-MDE:
    Also included are seventeen (17) MK25 quad pack canisters, eight 
(8) MK783 shipping containers, spare and repair parts, support and test 
equipment, publications and technical documentation, training, U.S. 
Government/Contractor engineering, technical and logistics support 
services and technical assistance, and other related elements of 
logistical support.
    (iv) Military Department: Navy (FI-P-LBP)
    (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: February 5, 2018
    *As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control Act.

POLICY JUSTIFICATION

Finland--Evolved SEASPARROW Missiles (ESSM)

    The Government of Finland has requested a possible sale of sixty-
eight (68) Evolved SEASPARROW Missiles (ESSM) and one (1) ESSM inert 
operational missile. Also included are seventeen (17) MK25 quad pack 
canisters, eight (8) MK783 shipping containers, spare and repair parts, 
support and test equipment, publications and technical documentation, 
training, U.S. Government/Contractor engineering, technical and 
logistics support services and technical assistance, and other related 
elements of logistical support. The estimated total case value is 
$112.7 million.
    This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national 
security objectives of the United States by improving the security of a 
partner nation that has been, and continues to be, an important force 
for political stability and economic progress in Europe.
    Finland intends to use the missiles on its new Squadron 2020 class 
Corvette ships. The missiles will provide enhanced capabilities in 
effective defense of critical sea lanes and improve Finland's 
capability to meet current and future threats of enemy anti-ship 
weapons. Finland has not purchased ESSM previously, but will have no 
difficulty incorporating this capability into its naval forces.
    The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the 
basic military balance in the region.
    The principal contractors will be Raytheon Missile Systems (RMS) 
Tucson, AZ, for the missiles, and BAE Systems, Aberdeen, SD, for the 
missile canisters. The purchaser typically requests offsets. Any offset 
agreement will be defined in negotiations between the purchaser and the 
contractor.
    Implementation of this proposed sale will require up to 12 U.S. 
Government personnel to travel to Finland providing support over a 
period of five years.
    There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a 
result of this proposed sale.
Transmittal No. 17-77
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 Evolved SEASPARROW missiles (ESSM) includes the guidance 
section, warhead section, transition section, propulsion section, 
control section, and Thrust Vector Control (TVC) of which the guidance 
section and transition section are classified CONFIDENTIAL. Standard 
missile documentation will include:
a. Parametric documents (classified CONFIDENTIAL)
b. Missile Handling/Maintenance Procedures (UNCLASSIFIED)
c. General Performance Data (classified CONFIDENTIAL)
d. Firing Guidance (classified CONFIDENTIAL)
e. Dynamics Information (classified CONFIDENTIAL)
    2. The Evolved SEASPARROW Missile (ESSM) contains SENSITIVE 
technological information and/or RESTRICTED information in the missile 
guidance section. Certain operating frequencies and performance 
characteristics are classified SECRET because they could be used to 
develop tactics and/or countermeasures to reduce or defeat the missile 
effectiveness.
    3. If a technologically advanced adversary were to obtain knowledge 
of specific hardware, the information could be used to develop 
countermeasures which might reduce weapons system effectiveness or be 
used in the development of a system with similar or advanced 
capabilities.
    4. A determination has been made that Finland can provide 
substantially the same degree of protection for sensitive technology 
being released as the U.S. Government. This proposed sustainment 
program is necessary to the furtherance of the U.S. foreign policy and 
national security objectives outlined in the policy justification.
    5. All defense articles and services listed on this transmittal are 
authorized for release and export to the Government of Finland.

[FR Doc. 2018-03190 Filed 2-15-18; 8:45 am]
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