[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 81 (Monday, April 27, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 23334-23336]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-08785]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Office of the Secretary

[Transmittal No. 20-08]


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: Karma Job at [email protected] 
or (703) 697-8976.

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 20-08 with 
attached Policy Justification and Sensitivity of Technology.

    Dated: April 21, 2020.
Aaron T. Siegel,
Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.

[[Page 23335]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN27AP20.002

Transmittal No. 20-08
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 India
    (ii) Total Estimated Value:

Major Defense Equipment *...............................     $30 million
Other...................................................     $33 million
                                                         ---------------
  Total.................................................     $63 million
 

    (iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or 
Services under Consideration for Purchase:
    Major Defense Equipment (MDE):
    Sixteen (16) MK 54 All Up Round Lightweight Torpedoes (LWT)
    Three (3) MK 54 Exercise Torpedoes (MK 54 LWT Kit procurement 
required)
    Non-MDE:
    Also included are MK 54 spare parts; torpedo containers; two (2) 
Recoverable Exercise Torpedoes (REXTORP) with containers; Fleet 
Exercise Section (FES) and fuel tanks built into MK 54 LWT Kits 
(above); air launch accessories for fixed wing; 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 support.
    (iv) Military Department: Navy (IN-P-ABH)

[[Page 23336]]

    (v) Prior Related Cases, if any: IN-P-AAR
    (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 13, 2020

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

POLICY JUSTIFICATION

India--MK 54 Lightweight Torpedoes

    The Government of India has requested to buy sixteen (16) MK 54 All 
Up Round Lightweight Torpedoes (LWT); and three (3) MK 54 Exercise 
Torpedoes (MK 54 LWT Kit procurement required). Also included are MK 54 
spare parts; torpedo containers; two (2) Recoverable Exercise Torpedoes 
(REXTORP) with containers; Fleet Exercise Section (FES) and fuel tanks 
built into MK 54 LWT Kits (above); air launch accessories for fixed 
wing; 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 support. The 
estimated program cost is $63 million.
    This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national 
security of the United States by helping to strengthen the U.S.-Indian 
strategic relationship and to improve the security of a major defensive 
partner, which continues to be an important force for political 
stability, peace, and economic progress in the Indo-Pacific and South 
Asia region.
    The proposed sale will improve India's capability to meet current 
and future threats from enemy weapon systems. The MK 54 Lightweight 
Torpedo will provide the capability to conduct anti-submarine warfare 
missions. India will use the enhanced capability as a deterrent to 
regional threats and to strengthen its homeland defense. India intends 
to utilize MK 54 Lightweight Torpedoes on its P-8I aircraft. India will 
have no difficulty absorbing these systems 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 Raytheon Integrated Defense 
System, Portsmouth, Rhode Island. There are no known offset agreements 
proposed in connection with this potential sale. Any offset agreement 
required by India will be defined in negotiations between the purchaser 
and the contractor(s).
    Implementation of this proposed sale will not require the 
assignment of additional U.S. Government and/or contractor 
representatives to India; however, U.S. Government Engineering and 
Technical Services will be required on an interim basis for training 
and technical assistance.
    There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a 
result of this proposed sale.
Transmittal No. 20-08
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, rotary and fixed wing aircrafts. The MK 54 is an 
upgrade to the MK 46 Torpedo. 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. The Government of India has not requested nor 
will it 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 India can provide 
substantially the same degree of protection for the sensitive 
technology being released as the U.S. Government. This proposed sale is 
necessary to further the U.S. foreign policy and national security 
objectives outlined in the Policy Justification.
    4. All defense articles and services listed on this transmittal 
have been authorized for release and export to the Government of India.

[FR Doc. 2020-08785 Filed 4-24-20; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 5001-06-P