[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 226 (Monday, November 23, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 74698-74700]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-25848]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

[Transmittal No. 20-56]


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 20-56 with 
attached Policy Justification and Sensitivity of Technology.

    Dated: November 18, 2020.
Kayyonne T. Marston,
Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.
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[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN23NO20.001

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Transmittal No. 20-56
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 France
    (ii) Total Estimated Value:

Major Defense Equipment*.................  $ 50 million
Other....................................  $300 million
                                          ------------------------------
  Total..................................  $350 million
 
 

    (iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or 
Services under consideration for Purchase: Support for C-130 aircraft.
    Major Defense Equipment (MDE):

Four (4) AE-2100D Turbo Prop Engines
Two (2) Multifunctional, Information Distribution System-Low Volume 
Terminal Block Upgrade Two (MIDS-LVT BU2)

    Non-MDE: Also included are AN/ARC-210 radios; AN/ARC-164 radios; L-
3 CSW Multiband Receiver/Transmitters; AN/ARN-153 Navigation Systems; 
AN/ARN-147 Receivers; AN/APN-241 Radar Receiver Transmitter Processor; 
ARC-190 High Frequency Receivers; AAR-60 Missile Launch Warning 
Systems; MTS-A Forward

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Looking Infrared (FLIR) system; AN/APX-119 Identification Friend or Foe 
Systems; Joint Mission Planning System (JMPS); encryption devices; 
spare and repair parts; software delivery and support; publications and 
technical documentation; 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 (FR-D-QAM)
    (v) Prior Related Cases, if any: GY-D-SUA and FR-D-SAE
    (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: September 2, 2020
    *As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control Act.

POLICY JUSTIFICATION

France--C-130 Aircraft Support

    The Government of France has requested to buy four (4) AE-2100D 
Turbo Prop engines and two (2) Multifunctional, Information 
Distribution System-Low Volume Terminal Block Upgrade Two (MIDS-LVT 
BU2). Also included are AN/ARC-210 radios; AN/ARC-164 radios; L-3 CSW 
Multiband Receiver/Transmitters; AN/ARN-153 Navigation Systems; AN/ARN-
147 Receivers; AN/APN-241 Radar Receiver Transmitter Processor; ARC-190 
High Frequency Receivers; AAR-60 Missile Launch Warning Systems; MTS-A 
Forward Looking Infrared (FLIR) system; AN/APX-119 Identification 
Friend or Foe Systems; Joint Mission Planning System (JMPS); encryption 
devices; spare and repair parts; software delivery and support; 
publications and technical documentation; U.S. Government and 
contractor engineering; technical and logistics support services; and 
other related elements of logistical and program support. The estimated 
total cost is $350 million.
    This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national 
security of the United States by helping to improve security of a NATO 
ally which is an important force for political stability and economic 
progress in Europe.
    The proposed sale will improve France's capability to meet current 
and future threats by providing the necessary sustainment, services, 
and spare parts to support the co-managed fleet of French and German C-
130 aircraft. France will have no difficulty absorbing these articles 
and/or services 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 Corporation, 
Marietta, GA; Rolls Royce Cooperation, Indianapolis, IN; General 
Electric Aviation System, LTD/Dowty, Sterling, VA; Raytheon, Cedar 
Rapids, IA; and ViaSat, Carlsbad, CA. There are no known offset 
agreements proposed in connection with this potential sale.
    Implementation of this proposed sale will require the assignment of 
(1) U.S. contractor representative to France for a duration of three 
years to provide technical assistance and support to include field 
services, engineering tech support and integrated logistics support 
management.
    There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a 
result of this proposed sale.
Transmittal No. 20-56
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 Rolls Royce AE 2100D3 Turboprop Engine is the primary 
powerplant on the C-130J Hercules military airlift aircraft.
    2. The Multifunctional Information Distribution System-Low Volume 
Terminal (MIDS-LVT) is an advanced Link-16 command, control, 
communications, and intelligence (C3I) system incorporating high-
capacity, jam-resistant, digital communication links for exchange of 
near real-time tactical information, including both data and voice, 
among air, ground, and sea elements. MIDS-LVT is intended to support 
key theater functions such as surveillance, identification, air 
control, weapons engagement coordination, and direction for all 
services and allied forces. The system provides jamming-resistant, 
wide-area communications on a Link-16 network among MIDS and Joint 
Tactical Information Distribution System (JTIDS) equipped platforms.
    3. AN/AAR-60 Missile Launch Detection System (MILDS) is a passive, 
true imaging sensor device that is optimized to detect the radiation 
signature of a threat missile's exhaust plume within the Ultra Violet 
(UV) solar blind spectral band. Functionally, the architecture detects 
incoming missile threats and indicates their direction of arrival with 
the 'maximum' of warning time. The system is further noted as featuring 
'inherently' high-spacial resolution, 'advanced' temporal processing, a 
'very high' declaration rate, the 'virtual elimination' of false alarm 
rates, 'fast' threat detection and the automatic initiation of 
appropriate countermeasures. Physically, a typical application 
comprises four to six self-contained detector units each of which 
provides 'full' signal processing.
    4. The AN/AAS-54 MTS-A Forward Looking Infrared (FLIR) System 
integrates electro-optical, infrared, laser designation, and laser 
illumination capabilities to provide superior detection, ranging, and 
tracking. The system provides high rate of stabilization across six 
axis and flexible operating modes including integrated line-of-sight 
targeting and target tracking, using centroid, area and feature tracks. 
The system contains an Inertial Measurement Unit on the gimbal to 
enable accurate target geolocation. The MTS-A is capable of integration 
onto fixed-wing, rotary-wing, and unmanned air vehicle platforms.
    5. Joint Mission Planning System (JMPS) is a multi-platform PC 
based mission planning system.
    6. The highest level of classification of defense articles, 
components, and services included in this potential sale is SECRET.
    7. 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.
    8. A determination has been made that France 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.
    9. All defense articles and services listed in this transmittal 
have been authorized for release and export to the France.

[FR Doc. 2020-25848 Filed 11-20-20; 8:45 am]
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