[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 59 (Tuesday, March 27, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13124-13126]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-06110]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Office of the Secretary

[Transmittal No. 17-20]


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 17-20 with 
attached Policy Justification and Sensitivity of Technology.

    Dated: March 22, 2018.
Shelly Finke,
Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.
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Transmittal No. 17-20
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 the United Arab Emirates 
(UAE)
    (ii) Total Estimated Value:

Major Defense Equipment *...............  $ 240.0 million
Other...................................  $ 30.4 million
                                         -------------------------------
    Total...............................  $270.4 million
 

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

Major Defense Equipment (MDE):
    Three hundred (300) AIM-9X-2 Sidewinder Block II Missiles
    Forty (40) AIM-9X-2 Sidewinder Captive Air Training Missiles 
(CATMs)
    Thirty (30) AIM-9X-2 Sidewinder Block II Tactical Guidance Units
    Fifteen (15) AIM-9X-2 CATM Guidance Units
Non-MDE includes:
    Also includes containers, spares, support equipment and missile 
support, U.S. Government and contractor technical assistance and other 
related logistics support, and other associated support equipment and 
services.

    (iv) Military Department: Navy (ABJ)
    (v) Prior Related Cases, if any: AE-P-AAL (AIM-9M); and AE-P-ABA 
(AIM-9-X2 (previously notified and offered but the customer allowed the 
LOA to expire))
    (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: March 7, 2018

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

POLICY JUSTIFICATION

Government of the United Arab Emirates (UAE)--AIM-9X-2 Sidewinder Block 
II Missiles

    The UAE has requested the possible sale of three hundred (300) AIM-
9X-2 Sidewinder Block II missiles, forty (40) AIM-9X-2 Sidewinder 
Captive Air Training Missiles (CATMs), thirty (30) AIM-9X-2 Block II 
Tactical guidance units, fifteen (15) AIM-9X-2 CATM guidance units, 
containers, spares, support equipment and missile support, U.S. 
Government and contractor technical assistance and other related 
logistics support, and other associated support equipment and services. 
The total estimated cost is $270.4 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.
    This potential sale will improve the UAE's capability to meet 
current and future threats and provide an enhanced capability for its 
Air Force. The UAE will use the enhanced capability to strengthen its 
homeland defense. The UAE will have no difficulty absorbing this 
equipment into its armed forces.
    The proposed sale of this equipment and support does not alter the 
basic military balance in the region.
    The prime contractor will be Raytheon Missile Systems Company, 
Tucson, AZ. There are no known offset agreements proposed in connection 
with this potential sale.
    Implementation of this proposed sale will require U.S. Government 
or contractor representatives to travel to the UAE on a temporary basis 
for program technical support and management oversight.
    There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a 
result of this proposed sale.
Transmittal No. 17-20
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 AIM-9X-2 Sidewinder Block II missile represents a 
substantial increase in missile acquisition and kinematics performance 
over the AIM-9M and replaces the AIM-9X Block I missile configuration. 
The missile includes a high off-boresight seeker, enhanced 
countermeasure rejection capability, low drag/high angle of attack 
airframe and the ability to integrate the Helmet Mounted Cueing System. 
The software algorithms are the most sensitive portion of the AIM-9X-2 
missile. The software continues to be modified via a Pre-Planned 
Product Improvement (P\3\I) program in order to improve its counter-
countermeasure capabilities. No software source code or algorithms will 
be released. The missile is classified as CONFIDENTIAL.
    2. The AIM-9X-2 Sidewinder Block II missile will result in the 
transfer of sensitive technology and information. The equipment, 
hardware, and documentation are classified CONFIDENTIAL. The software 
and operational performance are classified SECRET. The seeker/guidance 
control section and the target detector are CONFIDENTIAL and contain 
sensitive state-of-the-art technology. Manuals and technical 
documentation that are necessary or support operational use and 
organizational management are classified up to SECRET. Performance and 
operating logic of the counter-countermeasures circuits are classified 
SECRET. The hardware, software, and data identified are classified to 
protect vulnerabilities, design and performance parameters and similar 
critical information.
    3. If a technologically advanced adversary were to obtain knowledge 
of the specific hardware and software elements, the information could 
be used to develop countermeasures that might reduce weapon system 
effectiveness or be used in the development of a system with similar 
advanced capabilities.
    4. All defense articles and services listed in this transmittal 
have been authorized for release and export to the Government of the 
United Arab Emirates (UAE).

[FR Doc. 2018-06110 Filed 3-26-18; 8:45 am]
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