[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 146 (Monday, July 30, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36564-36567]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-16192]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Office of the Secretary

[Transmittal No. 16-36]


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: DSCA at dsca.ncr.lmo.mbx.info@mail.mil">dsca.ncr.lmo.mbx.info@mail.mil 
or (703) 697-9709.

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 16-36 with 
attached Policy Justification and Sensitivity of Technology.

    Dated: July 25, 2018.
Shelly E. Finke,
Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.
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Transmittal No. 16-36
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: The Government of Bahrain
    (ii) Total Estimated Value:

Major Defense Equipment *..............................   $490.9 million
Other..................................................   $420.5 million
                                                        ----------------
  TOTAL................................................   $911.4 million
 

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

Twelve (12) AH-1Z Attack Helicopters
Twenty-six (26) T-700 GE 401C Engines (twenty-four (24) installed and 
two (2) spares)
Fourteen (14) AGM-114 Hellfire Missiles
Fifty-six (56) Advance Precision Kill Weapon System II (APKWS-II) WGU-
59B

    Non-MDE: Also includes fifteen (15) Honeywell Embedded Global 
Positioning System (GPS) Inertial Navigation System (INS) (EGI) w/
Standard Positioning Service (SPS) (including three (3) spares), twelve 
(12) Joint Mission Planning Systems, twelve (12) M197 20mm gun systems, 
thirty (30) Tech Refresh Mission Computers, fourteen (14) AN/AAQ-30 
Target Sight Systems, twenty six (26) Helmet Mounted Display/Optimized 
Top Owl, communication equipment, electronic warfare systems, fifteen 
(15) APX-117 Identification Friend or Foe (IFF), fifteen (15) AN/AAR-47 
Missile Warning Systems, fifteen (15) AN/ALE-47 Countermeasure 
Dispenser Sets, fifteen (15) APR-39C(V)2 Radar Warning Receivers, 
support equipment, spare engine containers, spare and repair parts, 
tools and test equipment, technical data and publications, personnel 
training and training equipment, U.S. government and contractor 
engineering, technical, and logistics support services, and other 
related elements of logistics and program support.
    (iv) Military Department: Navy.
    (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: April 27, 2018.

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

POLICY JUSTIFICATION

Bahrain--AH-l Z Attack Helicopters

    The Government of Bahrain has requested twelve (12) AH-1Z attack 
helicopters, twenty-six (26) T-700 GE 401C engines (twenty-four (24) 
installed and two (2) spares), fourteen (14) AGM-114 Hellfire Missiles, 
and fifty-six (56) Advance Precision Kill Weapon System II (APKWS-II) 
WGU-59Bs. This request also includes fifteen (15) Honeywell Embedded 
Global Positioning System (GPS) Inertial Navigation System (INS) (EGI) 
w/Standard Positioning Service (SPS) (including three (3) spares), 
twelve (12) Joint Mission Planning Systems, twelve (12) M197 20mm gun 
systems, thirty (30) Tech Refresh Mission Computers, fourteen (14) AN/
AAQ-30 Target Sight Systems, twenty six (26) Helmet Mounted Display/
Optimized Top Owl, communication equipment, electronic warfare systems, 
fifteen (15) APX-117 Identification Friend or Foe (IFF), fifteen (15) 
AN/AAR-47 Missile Warning Systems, fifteen (15) AN/ALE-47 
Countermeasure Dispenser Sets, fifteen (15) APR-39C(V)2 Radar Warning 
Receivers, support equipment, spare engine containers, spare and repair 
parts, tools and test equipment, technical data and publications, 
personnel training and training equipment, U.S. government and 
contractor engineering, technical, and logistics support services, and 
other related elements of logistics and program support. The total 
estimated cost is $911.4 million.
    This proposed sale will contribute to the foreign policy and 
national security of the United States by helping to improve the 
security of a major Non-NATO ally which is an important security 
partner in the region. Our mutual defense interests anchor our 
relationship and the Royal Bahraini Air Force plays a significant role 
in Bahrain's defense.
    The proposed sale improves Bahrain's capability to meet current and 
future threats. Bahrain will use this capability as a deterrent to 
regional threats and to strengthen its homeland defense. This sale will 
improve interoperability with U.S. forces. Bahrain will have no 
difficulty absorbing these helicopters into its armed forces.
    This proposed sale of equipment and support will not alter the 
basic military balance in the region.
    The principal contractors will be Bell Helicopter, Textron, Fort 
Worth, Texas; and General Electric Company, Lynn, Massachusetts. There 
are no known offset agreements proposed in conjunction with this 
potential sale.
    Implementation of this proposed sale will require multiple trips by 
U.S. Government and contractor representatives to participate in 
program and technical reviews plus training and maintenance support in 
country, on a temporary basis, for a period of sixty (60) months. It 
will also require three (3) contractor representatives to reside in 
country for a period of two (2) years to support this program.
    There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a 
result of this proposed sale.
Transmittal No. 16-36
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 following components and technical documentation for the 
program are classified as listed below:
    a. The AH-1 Z-model has an Integrated Avionics System (IAS) which 
includes two (2) mission computers and an automatic flight control 
system. Each crew station has two (2) 8x6-inch multifunction liquid 
crystal displays (LCD) and one (1) 4.2x4.2-inch dual function LCD 
display. The communications suite will have NON-COMSEC ARC 210 Ultra 
High Frequency Very High Frequency (UHF/VHF) radios with associated 
communications equipment (antennas, mounts). The navigation suite 
includes Honeywell Embedded Global Positioning System (GPS) Inertial 
Navigation System (INS) (EGI) w/Standard Positioning Service (SPS), a 
digital map system, a low-airspeed air data subsystem, which allows 
weapons delivery when hovering, and a AN/APX-117/A(V) IFF Transponder.
    b. The crew is equipped with the Optimized Top Owl (OTO) helmet-
mounted sight and display system. The OTO has a Day Display Module 
(DDM) and a Night Display Module (NDM). The AH-lZ has survivability 
equipment including the AN/AAR-47 Missile Warning and Laser Detection 
System, AN/ALE-47 Counter Measure Dispensing System (CMDS) and the AN/
APR-39 Radar Warning Receiver (RWR) to cover countermeasure dispensers, 
radar warning, incoming/on-way missile warning and on- fuselage laser-
spot warning systems.
    c. The following performance data and technical characteristics are 
classified as follows for the AH-1Z Airframe: countermeasure 
capability--SECRET, counter-countermeasures capability--SECRET, 
vulnerability to

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countermeasures--SECRET, vulnerability to electromagnetic pulse from 
nuclear environmental effects--SECRET, radar signature--SECRET, 
infrared signature--SECRET, acoustic signature--CONFIDENTIAL, 
ultraviolet signature--SECRET, mission effectiveness against threats--
CONFIDENTIAL, target sight system--up to SECRET, Tactical Air Moving 
Map Capability (TAMMAC)--up to SECRET, Honeywell Embedded GPS INS (EGI) 
w/SPS--UNCLASSIFIED, AN/ARC-210 RT 629F-23--UNCLASSIFIED, AN/APX-117/
A(V) IFF Transponder--UNCLASSIFIED, VCR or DVR--up to SECRET, APR-39 
Radar Warning System (RWS)--up to SECRET, AN/AAR-47 Missile/Laser 
Warning System (MLWS)--up to SECRET, AN/ALE-47 Countermeasures 
Dispenser Set (CMDS)--up to SECRET.
    d. The APKWS is a low-cost semi-active laser guidance kit developed 
by BAE Systems which converts unguided 2.75 inch (70 mm) rockets into 
precision laser-guided rockets. The classification is up to SECRET.
    e. The AGM-114 Hellfire II Semi-Active Laser (SAL) Missiles are 
rail-launched guided missiles developed and produced by Lockheed 
Martin. The guidance system employs a SAL seeker. The SAL missile homes 
in on the laser energy reflected off a target that has been illuminated 
by a laser designator. The laser can be on either the launch platform 
or another platform that can be separated from it by several 
kilometers. The target sets are armor, bunkers, caves, enclosures, 
boats, and enemy personnel. The weapon system hardware, as an ``All Up 
Round,'' is UNCLASSIFIED. The highest level of classified information 
to be disclosed regarding the AGM-114 Hellfire II missile software is 
SECRET. The highest level of classified information that could be 
disclosed by a proposed sale or by testing of the end item is SECRET 
and the highest level that must be disclosed for production, 
maintenance, or training is CONFIDENTIAL.
    2. If a technologically advanced adversary were to obtain knowledge 
of the specific hardware and software elements, the information could 
be used to develop countermeasures which might reduce weapon system 
effectiveness.
    3. The consequences of the loss of this technology to a 
technologically advanced or competent adversary could result in the 
compromise of equivalent systems, which in turn could reduce those 
weapons system's effectiveness, or be used in the development of a 
system with similar or advanced capabilities.
    4. A determination has been made that the Government of Bahrain can 
provide substantially the same degree of protection for the technology 
being released as the U.S. Government. This sale of the AH-l Z 
Helicopter and associated weapons will further U.S. foreign policy and 
national security objectives.
    5. All defense articles and services listed in this transmittal are 
authorized for release and export to the Government of Bahrain.

[FR Doc. 2018-16192 Filed 7-27-18; 8:45 am]
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