[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 63 (Monday, April 2, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13970-13972]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-06535]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Office of the Secretary

[Transmittal No. 17-62]


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 17-62 with 
attached Policy Justification and Sensitivity of Technology.

    Dated: March 27, 2018.
Shelly E. Finke,
Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.

[[Page 13971]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN02AP18.002

BILLING CODE 5001-06-C
Transmittal No. 17-62
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: Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
    (ii) Total Estimated Value:

Major Defense Equipment *................  $647 million
Other....................................  $ 23 million
                                          ------------------------------
  Total..................................  $670 million
 

    (iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or 
Services under Consideration for Purchase:
    Major Defense Equipment (MDE): Up to six thousand six hundred 
(6,600) TOW 2B Missiles (BGM-71F-Series) Ninety-six (96) TOW 2B (BGM-
71F-Series) Fly-to-Buy Lot Validation Missiles
    Non-MDE: Also included is government furnished equipment; technical 
manuals and publications; essential spares and repair parts; 
consumables; live fire exercise and ammunition; tools and test 
equipment; training; transportation; U.S. Government technical support 
and logistic support; contractor technical support; repair and return 
support; quality assurance teams; in-country Field Service 
Representative (FSR); other associated equipment and services in 
support of TOW 2B missiles; and other related elements of logistics and 
program support.
    (iv) Military Department: Army (SR-B-VBQ).
    (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.

[[Page 13972]]

    (viii) Date Report Delivered to Congress: March 22, 2018.

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

POLICY JUSTIFICATION

Saudi Arabia--TOW 2B (BGM-71F-Series) Missiles

    The Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has requested to buy 
up to six thousand six hundred (6,600) TOW 2B missiles (BGM-71F-Series) 
and ninety-six (96) TOW 2B (BGM-71F-Series) fly-to-buy lot validation 
missiles. Also included is government furnished equipment; technical 
manuals and publications; essential spares and repair parts; 
consumables; live fire exercise and ammunition; tools and test 
equipment; training; transportation; U.S. Government technical support 
and logistic support; contractor technical support; repair and return 
support; quality assurance teams; in-country Field Service 
Representative (FSR); other associated equipment and services in 
support of TOW 2B missiles; and other related elements of logistics and 
program support. The total estimated program cost is $670 million.
    This proposed sale will support U.S. foreign policy and national 
security objectives by improving the security of a friendly country 
which has been, and continues to be, an important force for political 
stability and economic growth in the Middle East. This potential sale 
is consistent with U.S. initiatives to provide key partners in the 
region with modern systems that will enhance interoperability with U.S. 
forces and increase stability.
    The proposed sale of TOW 2B missiles and technical support will 
advance the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's efforts to develop an integrated 
ground defense capability. A strong national defense and dedicated 
military force will assist Saudi Arabia to sustain itself in its 
efforts to maintain stability. Saudi Arabia 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 is Raytheon Missile Systems, Tucson, AZ. 
There are no known offset agreements proposed in connection with this 
potential sale.
    Implementation of this proposed sale will not require the permanent 
assignment of any U.S. Government or contractor representatives to 
Saudi Arabia. There will be no more than two contractor personnel in 
the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia at any one time and all efforts will take 
less than two weeks in total.
    There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a 
result of this proposed sale.
Transmittal No. 17-62
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 TOW 2B RF Missile is a fly-over-shoot-down missile designed 
to defeat armored vehicles. These missiles are fired from a variety of 
TOW launchers in the U.S. Army, USMC and FMS customer forces. The TOW 
2B RF can be launched from the same launcher platforms as the existing 
wire-guided TOW 2B missiles without modification to the launcher. The 
TOW 2B missile (both wire & RF) contains two tracker beacons (xenon and 
thermal) for the launcher to track and guide the missile in flight. 
Guidance commands from the launcher are provided to the missile by an 
RF link contained within the missile case. The hardware, software and 
technical publications provided with the sale are unclassified; 
however, the system itself contains sensitive technology that instructs 
the system on how to operate in the presence of countermeasures.
    2. If a technologically advanced adversary obtains knowledge of the 
specific hardware and software elements, the information could be used 
to develop countermeasures or equivalent systems that might reduce 
weapon system effectiveness or be used in the development of a system 
with similar or advanced capabilities.
    3. A determination has been made that Saudi Arabia 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 are 
authorized for release and export to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

[FR Doc. 2018-06535 Filed 3-30-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 5001-06-P