[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 183 (Thursday, September 20, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47611-47613]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-20507]
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Office of the Secretary
[Transmittal No. 18-27]
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 18-27 with
attached Policy Justification and Sensitivity of Technology.
Dated: September 17, 2018.
Shelly E. Finke,
Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.
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[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN20SE18.000
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Transmittal No. 18-27
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 the Netherlands
(ii) Total Estimated Value:
Major Defense Equipment *............................... $122 million
Other................................................... $ 47 million
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Total................................................. $169 million
(iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or
Services under Consideration for Purchase:
Major Defense Equipment (MDE):
One hundred six (106) MK 54 Lightweight Torpedo Conversion Kits
Non-MDE:
Also included are torpedo containers, Recoverable Exercise
Torpedoes (REXTORP) with containers; Fleet Exercise Section (FES) and
fuel tanks; air launch accessories for rotary wing aircraft; torpedo
launcher interface cabinets; ground handling equipment; torpedo spare
parts; training; publications; support and test equipment; U.S.
Government and contractor engineering, technical, and logistics support
services; and other related elements of logistics and program support.
[[Page 47613]]
(iv) Military Department: Navy (NE-P-LHP)
(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: None
(viii) Date Report Delivered to Congress: July 31, 2018
* As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control Act.
POLICY JUSTIFICATION
The Netherlands--MK 54 Lightweight Torpedoes
The Netherlands requests to buy one hundred six (106) MK 54
conversion kits. Also included are torpedo containers, Recoverable
Exercise Torpedoes (REXTORP) with containers; Fleet Exercise Section
(FES) and fuel tanks; air launch accessories for rotary wing aircraft;
torpedo launcher interface cabinets; ground handling equipment; torpedo
spare parts; training; publications; support and test equipment; U.S.
Government and contractor engineering, technical, and logistics support
services; and other related elements of logistics and program support.
The estimated program value is $169 million.
This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national
security objectives of the United States by improving the security of a
NATO Ally, which is an important force for political stability and
economic progress in Europe.
The Royal Netherlands Navy intends to upgrade its current MK 46
torpedoes to the MK 54 with the purchase of these kits. The Netherlands
will have no difficulty absorbing the MK 54 torpedoes.
The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the
basic military balance in the region.
The principal contractor will be Raytheon Integrated Defense
System, Portsmouth, Rhode Island. There are no known offset agreements
proposed in connection with this potential sale.
Implementation of this proposed sale will not require the
assignment of any additional U.S. Government or contractor
representatives to Netherlands; however, U.S. Government Engineering
and Technical Services may be required on an interim basis for
installations and integration.
There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a
result of this proposed sale.
Transmittal No. 18-27
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 MK 54 Torpedo is a conventional torpedo that can be launched
from surface ships, helicopters, and fixed wing aircraft. The MK 54 is
an upgrade to the MK 46 Torpedo, which is currently in-service in
Netherlands. The upgrade to the MK 54 entails replacement of the
torpedo's sonar and guidance and control systems with modem technology.
The new guidance and control system uses a mixture of commercial-off-
the-shelf and custom-built electronics. The warhead, fuel tank and
propulsion system from the MK 46 torpedo are re-used in the MK 54
configuration with minor modifications. There is no sensitive
technology in the MK 54 or its support and test equipment. The
assembled MK 54 torpedo and several of its individual components are
classified CONFIDENTIAL. The MK 54 operational software is classified
as SECRET. Netherlands will not be provided with the source code for
the MK 54 operational software.
2. If a technologically advanced adversary were to obtain knowledge
of the hardware and software elements, the information could be used to
develop countermeasures or equivalent systems which might reduce system
effectiveness or be used in the development of a system with similar or
advanced capabilities.
3. A determination has been made that the Government of the
Netherlands 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
have been authorized for release and export to the Netherlands.
[FR Doc. 2018-20507 Filed 9-19-18; 8:45 am]
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