[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 166 (Wednesday, August 26, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52560-52563]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-18700]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Office of the Secretary

[Transmittal No. 20-18]


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 20-18 with 
attached Policy Justification and Sensitivity of Technology.

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

[[Page 52561]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN26AU20.002

BILLING CODE 5001-06-C
Transmittal No. 20-18
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 Japan
    (ii) Total Estimated Value:

Major Defense Equipment*................  $11.30 billion
Other...................................  $11.81 billion
                                         -------------------------------
  TOTAL.................................  $23.11 billion
 

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

    Major Defense Equipment (MDE):
Sixty-three (63) F-35A Conventional Take-Off and Landing (CTOL) 
Aircraft
Forty-two (42) F-35B Short Take-Off and Vertical Landing (STOVL) 
Aircraft
One hundred ten (110) Pratt and Whitney F135 Engines (includes 5 
spares)

    Non-MDE:
    Also included are Electronic Warfare Systems; Command, Control, 
Communications, Computers and Intelligence/Communications, Navigation 
and Identification; Autonomic Logistics Global Support System, 
Autonomic Logistics Information System; Flight Mission Trainer; Weapons 
Employment Capability, and other Subsystems, Features, and 
Capabilities; F-35 unique infrared flares; reprogramming center access 
and F-35 Performance Based Logistics; software development/integration; 
flight test instrumentation; aircraft ferry and tanker support; spare 
and repair parts; support equipment, 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 logistical 
and program support.
    (iv) Military Department: Air Force (JA-D-SGN)
    (v) Prior Related Cases, if any: JA-D-SBC
    (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: July 9, 2020
    *As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control Act.

POLICY JUSTIFICATION

Japan--F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Aircraft

    The Government of Japan has requested to buy sixty-three (63) F-35A 
Conventional Takeoff and Landing (CTOL) aircraft, forty-two (42) F-35B 
Short Take-Off and Vertical Landing

[[Page 52562]]

(STOVL) aircraft, and one hundred ten (110) Pratt and Whitney F135 
engines (includes 5 spares). Also included are Electronic Warfare 
Systems; Command, Control, Communications, Computers and Intelligence/
Communications, Navigation and Identification; Autonomic Logistics 
Global Support System, Autonomic Logistics Information System; Flight 
Mission Trainer; Weapons Employment Capability, and other Subsystems, 
Features, and Capabilities; F-35 unique infrared flares; reprogramming 
center access and F-35 Performance Based Logistics; software 
development/integration; flight test instrumentation; aircraft ferry 
and tanker support; spare and repair parts; support equipment, 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 support. The estimated total cost is $23.11 billion.
    This proposed sale will support the foreign policy goals and 
national security objectives of the United States by improving the 
security of a major ally that is a force for political stability and 
economic progress in the Asia-Pacific region. It is vital to U.S. 
national interest to assist Japan in developing and maintaining a 
strong and effective self-defense capability.
    The proposed sale of aircraft and support will augment Japan's 
operational aircraft inventory and enhance its air-to-air and air-to-
ground self-defense capability. The Japan Air Self-Defense Force's F-4 
aircraft are being decommissioned as F-35s are added to the inventory. 
Japan will have no difficulty absorbing these aircraft 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 Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company, 
Fort Worth, Texas; and Pratt and Whitney Military Engines, East 
Hartford, Connecticut. There are no known offset agreements proposed in 
connection with this potential sale.
    Implementation of this proposed sale will require multiple trips to 
Japan involving U.S. Government and contractor representatives for 
technical reviews/support, programs management, and training over a 
period of 25 years. U.S. contractor representatives will be required in 
Japan to conduct Contractor Engineering Technical Services (CETS) and 
Autonomic Logistics and Global Support (ALGS) for after-aircraft 
delivery.
    There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a 
result of this proposed sale.
Transmittal No. 20-18
    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 F-35A Conventional Take Off and Landing (CTOL) aircraft is a 
single-seat, singleengine, all-weather, stealth, fifth-generation, 
multirole aircraft. The F-35B Short Take-Off and Vertical Landing 
(STOVL) variant is capable of operating from short airfields and ships. 
Both variants contain sensitive technology including the low observable 
airframe/outer mold line, the Pratt and Whitney F135 engine, AN/APG-81 
radar, an integrated core processor central computer, a mission 
systems/electronic warfare suite, a multiple sensor suite, technical 
data/documentation, and associated software. Sensitive elements of the 
F-35A and F-35B are also included in operational flight and maintenance 
trainers. Sensitive and classified elements of the F-35A CTOL and F-35B 
STOVL aircraft include hardware, accessories, components, and 
associated software for the following major subsystems:
    a. The Pratt and Whitney F135 engine is a single 40,000-lb thrust 
class engine designed for the F-35 and assures highly reliable, 
affordable performance. The engine is designed to be utilized in all F-
35 variants, providing unmatched commonality and supportability 
throughout the worldwide base of F-35 users. The STOVL propulsion 
configuration consists of the main engine, diverter-less supersonic 
inlet, a three (3) Bearing Swivel Module, Roll Posts and Duct Assembly 
System, and Lift Fan.
    b. The AN/APG-81 Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) is a 
high processing power/high transmission power electronic array capable 
of detecting air and ground targets from a greater distance than 
mechanically scanned array radars. It also contains a synthetic 
aperture radar (SAR), which creates high-resolution ground maps and 
provides weather data to the pilot, and provides air and ground tracks 
to the mission system, which uses it as a component to fuse sensor 
data.
    c. The Electro-Optical Targeting System (EOTS) provides long-range 
detection and tracking as well as an infrared search and track (IRST) 
and forward-looking infrared (FLIR) capability for precision tracking, 
weapons delivery, and bomb damage assessment (BDA). The EOTS replaces 
multiple separate internal or podded systems typically found on legacy 
aircraft.
    d. The Electro-Optical Distributed Aperture System (EODAS) provides 
the pilot with full spherical coverage for air-to-air and air-to-ground 
threat awareness, day/night vision enhancements, a fire control 
capability, and precision tracking of wingmen/friendly aircraft. The 
EODAS provides data directly to the pilot's helmet as well as the 
mission system.
    e. The Electronic Warfare (EW) system is a reprogrammable, 
integrated system that provides radar warning and electronic support 
measures (ESM) along with a fully integrated countermeasures (CM) 
system. The EW system is the primary subsystem used to enhance 
situational awareness, targeting support and self-defense through the 
search, intercept, location and identification of in-band emitters and 
to automatically counter IR and RF threats.
    f. The Command, Control, Communications, Computers and 
Intelligence/ Communications, Navigation, and Identification (C4I/CNI) 
system provides the pilot with unmatched connectivity to flight 
members, coalition forces, and the battlefield. It is an integrated 
subsystem designed to provide a broad spectrum of secure, anti-jam 
voice and data communications, precision radio navigation and landing 
capability, self-identification, beyond visual range target 
identification, and connectivity to off-board sources of information. 
It also includes an inertial navigation and global positioning system 
(GPS) for precise location information. The functionality is tightly 
integrated within the mission system to enhance efficiency.
    g. The aircraft C4I/CNI system includes two data links, the Multi-
Function Advanced Data Link (MADL) and Link 16. The MADL is designed 
specifically for the F-35 and allows for stealthy communications 
between F-35s. Link 16 data link equipment allows the F-35 to 
communicate with legacy aircraft using widely-distributed J-series 
message protocols.
    h. The F-35 Autonomic Logistics Global Sustainment (ALGS) provides 
a fully integrated logistics management solution. ALGS integrates a 
number of functional areas, including supply chain management, repair, 
support equipment, engine support, and training. The ALGS 
infrastructure

[[Page 52563]]

employs a state-of-the-art information system that provides real-time, 
decision-worthy information for sustainment decisions by flight line 
personnel. Prognostic health monitoring technology is integrated with 
the air system and is crucial to predictive maintenance of vital 
components.
    i. The F-35 Autonomic Logistics Information System (ALIS) provides 
an intelligent information infrastructure that binds all the key 
concepts of ALGS into an effective support system. ALIS establishes the 
appropriate interfaces among the F-35 Air Vehicle, the warfighter, the 
training system, government information technology (IT) systems, and 
supporting commercial enterprise systems. Additionally, ALIS provides a 
comprehensive tool for data collection and analysis, decision support, 
and action tracking.
    j. The F-35 Training System includes several training devices to 
provide integrated training for pilots and maintainers. The pilot 
training devices include a Full Mission Simulator (FMS) and Deployable 
Mission Rehearsal Trainer (DMRT). The maintainer training devices 
include an Aircraft Systems Maintenance Trainer (ASMT), Ejection System 
Maintenance Trainer (ESMT), Outer Mold Line (OML) Lab, Flexible Linear 
Shaped Charge (FLSC) Trainer, F135 Engine Module Trainer, and Weapons 
Loading Trainer (WLT). The F-35 Training System can be integrated, 
where both pilots and maintainers learn in the same Integrated Training 
Center (ITC). Alternatively, the pilots and maintainers can train in 
separate facilities (Pilot Training Center and Maintenance Training 
Center).
    k. Other subsystems, features, and capabilities include the F-35's 
low observable air frame, Integrated Core Processor (ICP) Central 
Computer, Helmet Mounted Display System (HMDS), Pilot Life Support 
System, Off-Board Mission Support (OMS) System, and publications/
maintenance manuals. The HMDS provides a fully sunlight readable, bi-
ocular display presentation of aircraft information projected onto the 
pilot's helmet visor. The use of a night vision camera integrated into 
the helmet eliminates the need for separate Night Vision Goggles (NVG). 
The Pilot Life Support System provides a measure of Pilot Chemical, 
Biological, and Radiological Protection through use of an OnBoard 
Oxygen Generating System (OBOGS); and an escape system that provides 
additional protection to the pilot. OBOGS takes the Power and Thermal 
Management System (PTMS) air and enriches it by removing gases (mainly 
nitrogen) by adsorption, thereby increasing the concentration of oxygen 
in the product gas and supplying breathable air to the pilot. The OMS 
provides a mission planning, mission briefing, and a maintenance/
intelligence/tactical debriefing platform for the F-35.
    2. The Reprogramming Center is located in the United States and 
provides F-35 customers a means to update F-35 electronic warfare 
databases.
    3. The highest level of classification of information included in 
this potential sale is SECRET.
    4. If a technologically advanced adversary were to obtain knowledge 
of the specific hardware and software elements, the information could 
be used to develop countermeasures that might reduce weapon system 
effectiveness or be used in the development of a system with similar or 
advanced capabilities.
    5. A determination has been made that Japan can provide 
substantially the same degree of protection for the sensitive 
technology being released as the U.S. Government. This sale is 
necessary in furthering U.S. foreign policy and national security 
objectives outlined in the Policy Justification.
    6. All defense articles and services listed in this transmittal 
have been authorized for release and export to Japan.

[FR Doc. 2020-18700 Filed 8-25-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 5001-06-P