[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 76 (Thursday, April 19, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17379-17381]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-08214]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Office of the Secretary

[Transmittal No. 17-24]


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 17-24 with 
attached Policy Justification.

    Dated: April 16, 2018.
Shelly E. Finke,
Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.
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[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN19AP18.000

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Transmittal No. 17-24
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 Qatar
    (ii) Total Estimated Value:

Major Defense Equipment *...............................    $250 million
Other...................................................    $ 50 million
                                                         ---------------
  TOTAL.................................................    $300 million
 

    (iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or 
Services under Consideration for Purchase:
    MDE: Five thousand (5,000) Advanced Precision Kill Weapon Systems 
(APKWS) II Guidance Sections
    Non-MDE: Also included are five thousand (5,000) MK66-4 2.75 inch 
Rocket Motors, five thousand (5,000) High Explosive Warheads for 
Airborne 2.75 inch Rockets, inert MK66-4 2.75 inch Rocket Motors, Inert 
High Explosive Warhead for Airborne 2.75 inch Rockets, support 
equipment, spares, training, publications, engineering technical 
assistance, program management technical assistance, logistics support 
services, and other related elements of program support.
    (iv) Military Department: U.S. Army (QA-B-WYX)

[[Page 17381]]

    (v) Prior Related Cases, if any: QA-B-WYX, 19 Aug 14)
    (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: April 9, 2018
    * As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control Act.

POLICY JUSTIFICATION

Qatar--Five thousand (5,000) Advanced Precision Kill Weapon Systems 
(APKWS) and Related Equipment and Support

    The Government of Qatar has requested a possible sale of five 
thousand (5,000) Advanced Precision Kill Weapon Systems (APKWS) II 
Guidance Sections. Also included are five thousand (5,000) MK66-4 2.75 
inch rocket motors, five thousand (5,000) high explosive warheads for 
airborne 2.75 inch rockets, inert MK66-4 2.75 inch rocket motors, inert 
high explosive warhead for airborne 2.75 inch rockets, support 
equipment, spares, training, publications, engineering technical 
assistance, program management technical assistance, logistics support 
services, and other related elements of program support. The estimated 
total program value is $300 million.
    This proposed sale supports the foreign policy and national 
security objectives of the United States. Qatar is an important force 
for political stability and economic progress in the Persian Gulf 
region. Our mutual defense interests anchor our relationship and the 
Qatar Emiri Air Force (QEAF) plays a predominant role in Qatar's 
defense.
    Qatar intends to use these defense articles and services to 
modernize its armed forces. This will contribute to Qatar's military 
goal by providing additional capability to its new AH-64E aircraft 
fleet. The APKWS will provide Qatar with a low-cost precision strike 
capability, decreasing collateral damage and expanding its options for 
counterterrorism operations. Qatar 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 involved in this program is BAE, Nashua, 
New Hampshire. There are no known offset agreements proposed in 
connection with this potential sale.
    Implementation of this proposed sale will require two U.S. 
Government or contractor representatives to travel to the State of 
Qatar for a period of one week to train in assembly and Wing Slot Seal 
replacement
    There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a 
result of this proposed sale.
Transmittal No. 17-24
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 APKWS II All-Up-Round is an air-to-ground weapon that 
consists of an APKWS II Guidance Section (GS), legacy 2.75 inch MK66 
Mod 4 rocket motor and legacy MK152 and MK435/436 warhead/fuse. The 
APKWS II GS is installed between the rocket motor and warhead and 
provides a Semi-Active Laser (SAL) precision capability to legacy 
unguided 2.75-inch rockets. The APKWS II is procured as an independent 
component to be mated to the appropriate 2.75-inch warhead/fuse; 
however, for this case the APKWS II will be delivered as an All-up-
Round (AUR).
    2. The GS is manually set with the appropriate laser code during 
loading and is launched from any platform configured with a LAU-68F/A, 
or similar launcher(s). After launch, the GS activates and the seeker 
detects laser energy reflected from a target designated with a remote 
or autonomous laser. The control system then guides the rocket to the 
target.
    3. The only interface required with the host platform is a 28V 
Direct Current (DC) firing pulse.
    4. APKWS II increases stowed kills by providing precise engagements 
at standoff ranges with sufficient accuracy for a high single-shot 
probability of hit against soft and lightly armored targets, thereby 
minimizing collateral damage. The APKWS II is capable of day and night 
operations and performance is many adverse environments.
    5. All training for APKWS II is UNCLASSIFIED. The training required 
is: pilot training to effectively employ the APKWS II, ordnance handler 
for safe handling and preparation of the APKWS II and AUR, and 
maintenance training for replacement of the Wing Slot Seal (WSS).
    6. All defense articles and services listed in this transmittal are 
authorized for release and export to the State of Qatar.

[FR Doc. 2018-08214 Filed 4-18-18; 8:45 am]
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