[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 206 (Wednesday, October 24, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53616-53619]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-23259]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Office of the Secretary

[Transmittal No. 18-06]


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 18-06 with 
attached Policy Justification and Sensitivity of Technology.

    Dated: October 19, 2018.
Aaron T. Siegel,
Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.
BILLING CODE 5001-06-P

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[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN24OC18.001


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BILLING CODE 5001-06-C
Transmittal No. 18-06
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 Mexico
    (ii) Total Estimated Value:


Major Defense Equipment *................  $ .8 billion
Other....................................  $ .4 billion
                                          ------------------------------
  Total..................................  $1.2 billion
 


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

Eight (8) MH-60R Multi-Mission Helicopters, equipped with:

Twenty (20) T-700 GE 401 C Engines (16 installed and 4 spares)
Sixteen (16) APS-153(V) Multi-Mode Radars (8 installed, 8 spares)
Ten (10) Airborne Low Frequency System (ALFS) (8 installed and 2 
spares)
Twelve (12) AN/AAS-44C Multi-Spectral Targeting Systems Forward Looking 
Infrared Systems (8 installed, 4 spares)
Twenty (20) Embedded Global Positioning System/Inertial Navigation 
Systems (EGI) with Selective Availability/Anti-Spoofing Module (16 
installed and 4 spares)
Thirty (30) AN/AVS-9 Night Vision Devices
One thousand (1,000) AN/SSQ-36/53/62 Sonobuoys
Ten (10) AGM-114 Hellfire Missiles
Five (5) AGM-114 M36-E9 Captive Air Training Missiles
Four (4) AGM-114Q Hellfire Training Missiles
Thirty eight (38) Advanced Precision Kill Weapons System (APKWS) II 
Rockets
Thirty (30) Mk -54 Lightweight Hybrid Torpedoes (LHTs)
Twelve (12) M-240D Machine Guns
Twelve (12) GAU-21 Machine Guns

    Non-MDE:
    Also included are twelve (12) AN/ARC-220 High Frequency radios; 
fourteen (14) AN/APX-123 Identification Friend or Foe Transponders (8 
installed and 6 spares); spare engine containers; facilities study, 
design, and construction; spare and repair parts; support and test 
equipment; communication equipment; ferry support; publications and 
technical documentation; personnel training and training equipment; 
U.S. Government and contractor engineering, technical and logistics 
support services; and other related elements of logistical and program 
support.
    (iv) Military Department: Navy (MX-P-SAA)
    (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 18, 2018

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

POLICY JUSTIFICATION

Mexico--MH-60R Multi-Mission Helicopters

    The Government of Mexico has requested to buy eight (8) MH-60R 
Multi-Mission Helicopters, equipped with: twenty (20) T-700 GE 401 C 
engines (16 installed and 4 spares); sixteen (16) APS-153(V) Multi-Mode 
radars (8 installed, 8 spares); ten (10) Airborne Low Frequency Systems 
(ALFS) (8 installed and 2 spares); fourteen (14) AN/APX-123 
Identification Friend or Foe transponders (8 installed and 6 spares); 
twelve (12) AN/AAS-44C Multi-Spectral Targeting Systems Forward Looking 
Infrared Systems (8 installed, 4 spares); twenty (20) Embedded Global 
Positioning System/Inertial Navigation Systems (EGI) with Selective 
Availability/Anti-Spoofing Module (16 installed and 4 spares); thirty 
(30) AN/AVS-9 Night Vision Devices; one thousand (1,000) AN/SSQ-36/53/
62 Sonobuoys; ten (10) AGM-114 Hellfire missiles; five (5) AGM-114 M36-
E9 Captive Air Training missiles; four (4) AGM-114Q Hellfire training 
missiles; thirty eight (38) Advanced Precision Kill Weapons System 
(APKWS) II rockets; thirty (30) Mk -54 Lightweight Hybrid Torpedoes 
(LHTs); twelve (12) M-240D machine guns; twelve (12) GAU-21 Machine 
Guns. Also included are twelve (12) AN/ARC-220 High Frequency radios; 
spare engine containers; facilities study, design, and construction; 
spare and repair parts; support and test equipment; communication 
equipment; ferry support; publications and technical documentation; 
personnel training and training equipment; U.S. Government and 
contractor engineering, technical and logistics support services; and 
other related elements of logistical and program support. The total 
estimated value is $1.20 billion.
    This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national 
security of the United States by helping to improve the security of a 
strategic regional partner. Mexico has been a strong partner in 
combating organized crime and drug trafficking organizations. The sale 
of these aircraft to Mexico will significantly increase and strengthen 
its maritime capabilities. Mexico intends to use these defense articles 
and services to modernize its armed forces and expand its existing 
naval and maritime support of national security requirements and in its 
efforts to combat criminal organizations.
    The proposed sale will improve Mexico's ability to meet current and 
future threats from enemy weapon systems. The MH-60R Multi-Mission 
Helicopter will enable Mexico to perform anti-surface and anti-
submarine warfare missions and secondary missions including vertical 
replenishment, search and rescue, and communications relay. Mexico will 
use the enhanced capability as a deterrent to regional threats and to 
strengthen its homeland defense. Mexico 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 will be Lockheed Martin Rotary and Mission 
Systems in Owego, New York. There are no known offset agreements in 
connection with this potential sale.
    Implementation of this proposed sale will require the assignment of 
additional U.S. Government and/or contractor representatives to Mexico.
    There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a 
result of this proposed sale.
Transmittal No. 18-06
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 MH-60R Multi-Mission Helicopter focuses primarily on anti-
submarine and anti-surface warfare missions. The MH-60R carries several 
sensors and data links to enhance its ability to work in a network 
centric battle group as an extension of its home ship/main operating 
base. The mission equipment subsystem consists of the following sensors 
and subsystems: an acoustics systems consisting of a dipping sonar and 
sonobuoys, Multi-Mode Radar (MMR) with integral Identification Friend 
or Foe (IFF) interrogator, Electronic Support Measures (ESM), 
Integrated Self-Defense (ISD), and Multi-Spectral Targeting System 
(MTS). Also, Night Vision Devices (AN/AVS-9) for CONOPS and

[[Page 53619]]

interoperability with USN. It can carry AGM-114A/B/K Hellfire missiles, 
as well as Mk 46/54 torpedoes to engage surface and sub-surface 
targets. The Mexican MH-60R platform will include provisions for the Mk 
54 light weight torpedo. The MH-60R weapons system is classified up to 
SECRET. Unless otherwise noted below, MH-60R hardware and support 
equipment, test equipment, and maintenance spares are UNCLASSIFIED 
except when electrical power is applied to hardware containing volatile 
data storage. Technical data and documentation for MH-60R weapons 
systems (including sub-systems and weapons listed below) are classified 
up to SECRET. The sensitive technologies include:
    a. The AGM-114 HELLFIRE missile is an air-to-surface missile with a 
multi-mission, multi-target, precision strike capability. The HELLFIRE 
can be launched from multiple air platforms and is the primary 
precision weapon for the United States Army. The highest level for 
release of the AGM-114 HELLFIRE is SECRET, based upon the software. The 
highest level of classified information that could be disclosed by a 
proposed sale or by testing of the end item is SECRET; the highest 
level that must be disclosed for production, maintenance, or training 
is CONFIDENTIAL. Reverse engineering could reveal CONFIDENTIAL 
information. Vulnerability data, countermeasures, vulnerability/
susceptibility analyses, and threat definitions are classified SECRET 
or CONFIDENTIAL.
    b. Advanced Precision Kill Weapons System (APKWS) II laser guided 
rocket to counter the fast attack craft and fast inshore attack craft 
threat. APKWS hardware is UNCLASSIFIED.
    c. The light-weight hybrid air launched torpedo (Mk 54 LHT) is for 
surface and subsurface targets. The acquisition of Mk-54 LHT will 
include ancillary equipment and publications.
    d. Communications security devices contain sensitive encryption 
algorithms and keying material. The purchasing country has previously 
been released and utilizes COMSEC devices in accordance with set 
procedures and without issue. COMSEC devices will be classified up to 
SECRET when keys are loaded.
    e. Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) (KIV-78) contains embedded 
security devices containing sensitive encryption algorithms and keying 
material. The purchasing country will utilize COMSEC devices in 
accordance with set procedures. The AN/APX-123 is classified up to 
SECRET.
    f. GPS/PPS/SAASM--Global Positioning System (GPS) provides a space-
based Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) that has reliable 
location and time information in all weather and at all times and 
anywhere on or near the earth when and where there is an unobstructed 
line of sight to four or more GPS satellites. Selective Availability/
Anti-Spoofing Module (SAASM) (AN/PSN-11) is used by military GPS 
receivers to allow decryption of precision GPS coordinates. The GPS 
hardware is UNCLASSIFIED. When electrical power is applied, the system 
is classified up to SECRET.
    g. Acoustics algorithms are used to process dipping sonar and 
sonobuoy data for target tracking and for the Acoustics Mission Planner 
(AMP), which is a tactical aid employed to optimize the deployment of 
sonobuoys and the dipping sonar. Acoustics hardware is UNCLASSIFIED. 
The acoustics system is classified up to SECRET when environmental and 
threat databases are loaded and/or the system is processing acoustic 
data.
    h. The AN/APS-153 multi-mode radar with an integrated IFF and 
Inverse Synthetic Aperture (ISAR) provides target surveillance/
detection capability. The AN/APS-153 hardware is unclassified. When 
electrical power is applied and mission data loaded, the AN/APS-153 is 
classified up to SECRET.
    i. The AN/ALQ-210 (ESM) system identifies the location of an 
emitter. The ability of the system to identify specific emitters 
depends on the data provided by the Mexican Navy. The AN/ALQ-210 
hardware is UNCLASSIFIED. When electrical power is applied and mission 
data loaded, the AN/ALQ-210 system is classified up to SECRET.
    j. The AN/AAS-44C Forward Looking Infrared Radar (FLIR) uses the 
Multi-spectral Targeting System (MTS) that allows it to operate in day/
night and adverse weather conditions. Imagery is provided by an 
Infrared sensor, a color/monochrome DTV, and a Low-Light TV. The AN/
AAS-44C hardware is UNCLASSIFIED. When electrical power is applied, the 
AN/AAS-44C is classified up to SECRET.
    k. Satellite Communications Demand Assigned Multiple Access (SATCOM 
DAMA), which provide increased, interoperable communications 
capabilities with US forces. SATCOM DAMA hardware is UNCLASSIFIED. When 
electrical power is applied and mission data loaded these systems are 
classified up to SECRET.
    2. All the mission data, including sensitive parameters, is loaded 
from an off board station before each flight and does not stay with the 
aircraft after electrical power has been removed. Sensitive 
technologies are protected as defined in the program protection and 
anti-tamper plans. The mission data and off board station are 
classified up to SECRET.
    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 which might reduce weapon system 
effectiveness or be used in the development of a system with similar or 
advanced capabilities.
    4. A determination has been made that the recipient country 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.
    5. All defense articles and services listed in this transmittal 
have been authorized for release and export to Mexico.

[FR Doc. 2018-23259 Filed 10-23-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 5001-06-P