[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 138 (Friday, July 17, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43562-43565]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-15511]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Office of the Secretary

[Transmittal No. 20-42]


Arms Sales Notification

AGENCY: Defense Security Cooperation Agency, Department of Defense.

ACTION: Arms sales notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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 20-42 with 
attached Policy Justification and Sensitivity of Technology.

    Dated: July 13, 2020.
Aaron T. Siegel,
Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.
BILLING CODE 5001-06-P

[[Page 43563]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN17JY20.008

BILLING CODE 5001-06-C
Transmittal No. 20-42
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 Canada
    (ii) Total Estimated Value:

Major Defense Equipment *.............................   $204.50 million
Other.................................................   $657.80 million
                                                       -----------------
  Total...............................................   $862.30 million
 

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

Fifty (50) Sidewinder AIM-9X Block II Tactical Missiles
Fifty (50) Sidewinder AIM-9X Block II Captive Air Training Missiles 
(CATMs)
Ten (10) Sidewinder AIM-9X Block II Special Air Training Missiles 
(NATMs)
Ten (10) Sidewinder AIM-9X Block II Tactical Guidance Units
Ten (10) Sidewinder AIM-9X Block II CATM Guidance Units
Thirty-eight (38) APG-79(V)4 Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) 
Radar
Thirty-eight (38) APG-79(V)4 AESA Radar A1 Kits
Twenty (20) Joint Standoff Weapon (JSOW) C, AGM-154C
Forty-six (46) F/A-18A Wide Band RADOMEs

    Non-MDE:

    Also included are additional technical and logistics support for 
the AESA radar; upgrades to the Advanced Distributed Combat Training 
System (ADCTS) to ensure flight trainers remain current with the new 
technologies; software development to integrate the systems listed into 
the F/A-18A airframe and install Automated Ground Collision Avoidance 
System (Auto GCAS); thirty (30) Bomb Release Unit (BRU)--42 Triple 
Ejector Racks (TER); thirty (30) Improved Tactical Air Launched Decoy 
(ITALD); one hundred four (104) Data Transfer Device/Data Transfer 
Units (DTD/DTU); twelve (12) Joint Mission Planning System (JMPS); one 
hundred twelve (112) AN/ARC-210 RT-2036 (Gen 6) radios and F/A-18 
integration equipment; support equipment; tools and test equipment; 
technical data and publications; U.S. Government and contractor 
engineering, technical, and logistics support services; and other 
related elements of logistical and program support.

    (iv) Military Department: Navy (CN-P-LKZ, CN-P-LKW, CN-P-LLE, CN-P-
LLA, CN-P-LKY, CN-P-LKX, CN-P-LDD, etc.)
    (v) Prior Related Cases, if any: CN-P-FFE; CN-P-FEL; CN-P-LKS; CN-
P-LKT
    (vi) Sales Commission, Fee, etc., Paid, Offered, or Agreed to be 
Paid: None

[[Page 43564]]

    (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: June 15, 2020
    * As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control Act.

POLICY JUSTIFICATION

Canada--Hornet Extension Program Related FMS Acquisitions

    The Government of Canada has requested to buy fifty (50) Sidewinder 
AIM-9X Block II Tactical missiles; fifty (50) Sidewinder AIM-9X Block 
II Captive Air Training Missiles (CATMs); ten (10) Sidewinder AIM-9X 
Block II Special Air Training Missiles (NATMs); ten (10) Sidewinder 
AIM-9X Block II Tactical Guidance Units; ten (10) Sidewinder AIM-9X 
Block II CATM Guidance Units; thirty-eight (38) APG-79(V)4 Active 
Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar units; thirty-eight (38) APG-
79(V)4 AESA Radar A1 kits; twenty (20) Joint Standoff Weapon (JSOW) C, 
AGM-154C; forty-six (46) F/A-18A Wide Band RADOMEs. Also included are 
additional technical and logistics support for the AESA radar; upgrades 
to the Advanced Distributed Combat Training System (ADCTS) to ensure 
flight trainers remain current with the new technologies; software 
development to integrate the systems listed into the F/A-18A airframe 
and install Automated Ground Collision Avoidance System (Auto GCAS); 
thirty (30) Bomb Release Unit (BRU)--42 Triple Ejector Racks (TER); 
thirty (30) Improved Tactical Air Launched Decoy (ITALD); one hundred 
four (104) Data Transfer Device/Data Transfer Units (DTD/DTU); twelve 
(12) Joint Mission Planning System (JMPS); one hundred twelve (112) AN/
ARC-210 RT-2036 (Gen 6) radios and F/A-18 integration equipment; 
support equipment; tools and test equipment; technical data and 
publications; U.S. Government and contractor engineering, technical, 
and logistics support services; and other related elements of 
logistical and program support. The total estimated program cost is 
$862.3 million.
    This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national 
security objectives of the United States by helping to improve the 
military capability of Canada, a NATO ally that is an important force 
for ensuring political stability and economic progress and a 
contributor to military, peacekeeping and humanitarian operations 
around the world. This sale will provide Canada a 2-squadron bridge of 
enhanced F/A-18A aircraft to continue meeting NORAD and NATO 
commitments while it gradually introduces new advanced aircraft via the 
Future Fighter Capability Program between 2025 and 2035.
    The proposed sale of the capabilities, as listed, will improve 
Canada's capability to meet current and future warfare threats and 
provide greater security for its critical infrastructure. This sale 
will provide Canada the ability to maximize the systems' employment and 
sustainment, significantly enhancing the warfighting capability of the 
Royal Canadian Air Force's F/A-18 aircraft. Canada 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 prime contractors will be Raytheon Corporation, El Segundo, CA; 
General Dynamics Mission Systems, Marion, VA; The Boeing Company, St. 
Louis, MO; and Collins Aerospace, Cedar Rapids, IA. The purchaser 
typically requests offsets. Any offset agreement will be defined in 
negotiations between the purchaser and the contractor(s).
    Implementation of this proposed sale will require the assignment of 
contractor representatives to Canada on an intermittent basis over the 
life of the case to support delivery and integration of items onto the 
existing F/A-18A aircraft and to provide supply support management, 
inventory control and equipment familiarization.
    There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a 
result of this proposed sale.
Transmittal No. 20-42
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 are included in this sale:
    a. The AIM-9X Block II and Block II+ (Plus) SIDEWINDER Missile 
represents a substantial increase in missile acquisition and kinematics 
performance over the AIM-9M and replaces the AIM-9X Block I Missile 
configuration. The missile includes a high off-boresight seeker, 
enhanced countermeasure rejection capability, low drag/high angle of 
attack airframe and the ability to integrate the Helmet Mounted Cueing 
System. The software algorithms are the most sensitive portion of the 
AIM-9X missile. The software continues to be modified via a pre-planned 
product improvement (P3I) program in order to improve its counter-
countermeasure capabilities. No software source code or algorithms will 
be released. The missile is classified as CONFIDENTIAL. The AIM-9X will 
result in the transfer of sensitive technology and information. The 
equipment, hardware, and documentation are classified CONFIDENTIAL. The 
software and operational performance are classified SECRET. The seeker/
guidance control section and the target detector are CONFIDENTIAL and 
contain sensitive state-of-the-art technology. Manuals and technical 
documentation that are necessary or support operational use and 
organizational management are classified up to SECRET. Performance and 
operating logic of the counter-countermeasures circuits are classified 
SECRET. The hardware, software, and data identified are classified to 
protect vulnerabilities, design and performance parameters and similar 
critical information.
    b. The AN/APG-79 Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) Radar 
System is classified SECRET. The radar provides the F/A-18A Hornet 
aircraft with all-weather, multi-mission capability for performing Air-
to-Air and Air-to-Ground targeting and attack. Air-to-Air modes provide 
the capability for all-aspect target detection, long-range search and 
track, automatic target acquisition, and tracking of multiple targets. 
Air-to-Surface attack modes provide high-resolution ground mapping 
navigation, weapon delivery, and sensor cueing. The system component 
hardware (Antenna, Transmitter, Radar Data Processor, and Power Supply) 
is UNCLASSIFIED. The Receiver-Exciter hardware is CONFIDENTIAL. The 
radar Operational Flight Program (OFP) is classified SECRET. 
Documentation provided with the AN/APG-79 radar set is classified 
SECRET.
    c. The AGM-154 Joint Standoff Weapon (JSOW) is used by Navy, Marine 
Corps, and Air Force, and allows aircraft to attack well-defended 
targets in day, night, and adverse weather conditions. AGM-154C carries 
a BROACH warhead. The BROACH warhead incorporates an advanced multi-
stage warhead. JSOW-C uses the GPS Precise Positioning System (PPS), 
which provides for a more accurate capability than the commercial 
version of GPS. The JSOW-C incorporates components, software, and 
technical design information that are considered sensitive. The 
following JSOW-C components being conveyed by the proposed sale that 
are considered sensitive and are classified

[[Page 43565]]

CONFIDENTIAL include the GPS/INS, IIR seeker, OFP software and missile 
operational characteristics and performance data. These elements are 
essential to the ability of the JSOW-C missile to selectively engage 
hostile targets under a wide range of operational, tactical, and 
environmental conditions.
    d. The Wide Band RADOME (WBR) is a high performance nose radome 
designed for use with the Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) 
Radar. The WBR is required to leverage the full capability of the AESA 
Radar. The Radome will provide superior RF performance over broader 
AESA Radar operational bands which will give the user an advantage in 
operational scenarios. Specifically, the WBR will provide improved 
target detection with less interference and reduce jamming 
vulnerability. Purchasing the AESA without the WBR would significantly 
reduce the capability of the AESA and the user would gain very little 
advantage with the AESA.
    e. The Upgrades to the Advanced Distributed Combat Training System 
(ADCTS), provides an aggressive program upgrade the warfighting 
capability of the F/A-18. The program will introduce new systems and 
weapons to the aircraft. In order to have pilots ready to utilize the 
new technologies, it is imperative that the user's Pilot Trainer 
(ADCTS) undergoes a parallel upgrade effort. The ADCTS is an integral 
part of the user's Pilot Training Syllabus and this procurement will 
address this requirement. It will provide pilots the ability to train 
with the new systems that will be resident in the aircraft in a 
simulated environment. This procurement will provide pilots the ability 
to maximize use of the new capabilities that will eventually translate 
to the operational environment and make the users Air Force a 
significant contributor to international coalition initiatives.
    f. Software Development. The challenge facing the user nation is 
that in order to add all the new capabilities and weapons to the 
platform there is a parallel software effort required to ensure all the 
new capabilities have a software model that will support their 
integration and use. The success of the aggressive procurement of the 
systems and capabilities for the program will be dependent on the 
ability to develop and test the requisite software. This is a 
significant effort that will rely on Naval Air Weapons Station China 
Lake to develop the required products. This will entail development of 
the product, lab testing and eventually flight testing of the software 
loads. There will be some mutual software development, but the end 
result will depend on U.S. Government engineers to provide final check 
and approval of all software profiles. This FMS case funds this effort. 
Additionally, the software effort will support Automatic Ground 
Collision Avoidance System (A-GCAS). This system is also referred to as 
Automatic Terrain Avoidance Warning System (A-TAWS). This is flight 
control software that uses a terrain elevation database to calculate 
the aircraft's relative position above the ground. If it senses that 
the aircraft is on a collision course with the ground that is outside 
of normal parameters, it automatically commands the aircraft to roll 
wings level and recover away from a ground collision
    g. The ADM-141C Improved Tactical Air-Launched Decoy (ITALD) is 
unclassified. The ITALD vehicle is intended to be delivered by sea- and 
land-based tactical aircraft, to cause an increase in the number of 
apparent targets to enemy defenses prior to or during air strikes. The 
ITALD system consists of the flight vehicle, launch rack (Improved 
Triple Ejector Rack (ITER)), Improved Decoy Tester/Programmer (IDTP), 
Radio Frequency Payload System Tester (PSST), and shipping/storage 
container. The ITALD is capable of functioning in the vehicle test 
mode, mission programming mode (using JMPS with ITALD UPC), GPS almanac 
uploading mode, captive carriage mode, launch mode, jettison mode, and 
free-flight mode.
    h. The Joint Mission Planning System (JMPS) is classified SECRET. 
JMPS will provide mission planning capability for support of military 
aviation operations. It will also provide support for unit-level 
mission planning for all phases of military flight operations and have 
the capability to provide necessary mission data for the aircrew. JMPS 
will support the downloading of data to electronics data transfer 
devices for transfer to aircraft and weapon systems. A JMPS for a 
specific aircraft type will consist of basic planning tools called the 
Joint Mission Planning Environment (JMPE) mated with a Unique Planning 
Component (UPC) provided by the aircraft program. In addition, UPCs 
will be required for specific weapons, communication devices, and 
moving map displays. The JMPS will be tailored to the specific 
releasable configuration for the F/A-18A, with maximum commonality with 
the most advanced United States Marine Corps configuration of these 
aircraft.
    i. The AN/ARC-210 RT-2036 (Gen 6) Radio's Line-of-sight data 
transfer rates up to 80 kb/s in a 25 kHz channel creating high-speed 
communication of critical situational awareness information for 
increased mission effectiveness. Software that is reprogrammable in the 
field via Memory Loader/Verifier Software making flexible use for 
multiple missions. The AN/ARC-210 has embedded software with 
programmable cryptography for secure communications. Relative to the 
5th Generation AN/ARC-210 radios, the 6th generation AN/ARC-210 RT-2036 
adds, in addition to newer hardware, the Mobile User Objective System 
(MUOS) capability. Access to the MUOS satellite constellation can be 
effectively controlled by withholding the relevant order wire keys from 
RT-2036 users.
    2. If a technologically advanced adversary were to obtain knowledge 
of the specific hardware or software in this proposed sale, 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 advance capabilities.
    3. A determination has been made that the recipient country, the 
Government of Canada can provide substantially the same degree of 
protection for the classified and sensitive technology being released 
as the United States Government. This sale is necessary in furtherance 
if the United States 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 Government of 
Canada.

[FR Doc. 2020-15511 Filed 7-16-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 5001-06-P