[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 248 (Monday, December 28, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 84313-84316]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-28519]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Office of the Secretary

[Transmittal No. 21-07]


Arms Sales Notification

AGENCY: Defense Security Cooperation Agency, Department of Defense 
(DoD).

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 21-07 with 
attached Policy Justification and Sensitivity of Technology.

    Dated: December 18, 2020.
Aaron T. Siegel,
Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.
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[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN28DE20.500

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Transmittal No. 21-07
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 Italy
    (ii) Total Estimated Value:

Major Defense Equipment *...............  $ 10 million
Other...................................  $490 million
                                         -------------------------------
  Total.................................  $500 million
 

    (iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or 
Services under Consideration for Purchase: The Government of Italy has 
requested to buy articles and services to support the integration of 
two (2) Airborne Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance, and 
Electronic Warfare (AISREW) mission systems onto two (2) Italian 
Ministry of Defense provided G550 aircraft consisting of:

Major Defense Equipment (MDE):
    Four (4) Multifunctional Information Distribution Systems - Joint 
Tactical Radio System (MIDS JTRS) (2 installed, 2 spares)
    Three (3) Embedded/GPS/INS (EGI) with GPS Security Devices, 
Airborne (2 installed, 1 spare)
    Four (4) RIOTM Communications Intelligence Systems (2 
installed, 2 spares)
Non-MDE:
    Also included are Missile Warning Sensors, AN/ALE-47 Countermeasure 
Dispenser Sets

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(CMDS), MX-20HD Electro-Optical and Infra-Red systems, Osprey 50 AESA 
Radars, AISREW ISR equipment, Secure Communications equipment, 
Identification Friend or Foe Systems, aircraft modification and 
integration, ground systems for data processing and crew training, 
ground support equipment, publications and technical data, U.S. 
Government and contractor engineering, technical and logistics support 
services, flight test and certification, and other related elements of 
logistical and program support.

    (iv) Military Department: Air Force (IT-D-BAA)
    (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: December 15, 2020

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

POLICY JUSTIFICATION

Italy -- Gulfstream G550 Aircraft with Airborne Intelligence, 
Surveillance, Reconnaissance, and Electronic Warfare (AISREW) Mission 
Systems

    The Government of Italy has requested to buy articles and services 
to support the integration of two (2) Airborne Intelligence, 
Surveillance, Reconnaissance, and Electronic Warfare (AISREW) mission 
systems onto two (2) Italian Ministry of Defense provided G550 aircraft 
consisting of: four (4) Multifunctional Information Distribution 
Systems -- Joint Tactical Radio System (MIDS JTRS) (2 installed, 2 
spares); three (3) Embedded/GPS/INS (EGI) with GPS security devices, 
airborne (2 installed, 1 spare); and four (4) RIOTM 
Communications Intelligence Systems (2 installed, 2 spares). Also 
included are Missile Warning Sensors, AN/ALE-47 Countermeasure 
Dispenser Sets (CMDS), MX-20HD Electro-Optical and Infra-Red systems, 
Osprey 50 AESA Radars, AISREW ISR equipment, Secure Communications 
equipment, Identification Friend or Foe Systems, aircraft modification 
and integration, ground systems for data processing and crew training, 
ground support equipment, publications and technical data, U.S. 
Government and contractor engineering, technical and logistics support 
services, flight test and certification, and other related elements of 
logistical and program support. The total estimated program cost is 
$500 million.
    This proposed sale will support U.S. foreign policy and national 
security by helping to improve the security of a NATO ally, which is an 
important partner for political stability and economic progress in 
Europe.
    The proposed sale supports and complements the ongoing efforts of 
Italy to modernize its airborne Intelligence, Surveillance, 
Reconnaissance, and Electronic Warfare capability and increases 
interoperability between the U.S. Air Force and the Italian Air Force 
(ITAF). Italy will have no difficulty absorbing these articles 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 L3Harris, Greenville, TX. There 
are no known offset agreements proposed in connection with this 
potential sale.
    Implementation of this proposed sale will require the assignment of 
up to six (6) additional U.S. contractor representatives to Italy for a 
duration of one (1) year to support equipment familiarization.
    There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness resulting 
from this proposed sale.
Transmittal No. 21-07
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. Missile Warning Sensor (MWS) units are mounted on the aircraft 
exterior to provide omni-directional protection. The MWS warns of 
threat missile approach by detecting radiation associated with the 
rocket motor. The Infrared Missile Warning System (IRMWS) is a small, 
lightweight, passive, electro-optic, threat-warning device used to 
detect surface-to-air missiles fired at helicopters and low-flying 
fixed-wing aircraft and automatically provides counter-measures, as 
well as audio and visual warning messages to the aircrew.
    2. Multifunctional Information Distribution System-Joint Tactical 
Radio System (MIDS JTRS) 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.
    3. The AN/ALE-47 Countermeasure Dispenser Set (CMDS) provides an 
integrated threat-adaptive, computer controlled capability for 
dispensing chaff, flares, and active radio frequency expendables. The 
system is internally mounted and may be operated as a stand-alone 
system or may be integrated with other on-board Electronic Warfare (EW) 
and avionics systems. The AN/ALE-47 uses threat data received over the 
aircraft interfaces to assess the threat situation and determine a 
response. Expendable routines tailored to the immediate aircraft and 
threat environment may be dispensed using one of four operational 
modes.
    4. The Embedded GPS-INS (EGI) is a sensor that combines GPS and 
inertial sensor inputs to provide accurate location information for 
navigation and targeting, and can be loaded with crypto-variable keys.
    5. Wescam MX-20HD is a gyro-stabilized, multi-spectral, multi-field 
of view Electro-Optical/Infrared (EO/IR) system. The systems provide 
surveillance laser illumination and laser designation through use of an 
externally mounted turret sensor unit and internally mounted master 
control. Sensor video imagery is displayed in the aircraft real time 
and may be recorded for subsequent ground analysis.
    6. The Osprey family of surveillance radars provides second 
generation Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) surveillance 
capability as the primary sensor on airborne assets. The Osprey radars 
are at a high technology readiness level and are in production for 
fixed and rotary wing applications. This Osprey configuration employs a 
side-looking radar. Osprey radars provide a genuine multi-domain 
capability, with high performance sea surveillance, notably against 
difficult targets, land surveillance with wide swath, very high 
resolution ground mapping, small and low speed ground target 
indication, high performance air to air surveillance, tracking and 
intercept.
    7. The AISREW mission systems, to include the RIOTM 
Communications Intelligence Systems, provide near-real-time information 
to tactical forces, combatant commanders and national-level authorities 
across the spectrum of conflict. The mission system can forward gather 
information in a variety of formats via secured communications systems. 
Most hardware used in this system is generic and commercially 
available. However, if any of the specialized hardware or publications 
are lost, the information could provide insight into many critical U.S. 
capabilities. Information gained could be used to develop 
countermeasures as

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well as offensive and defensive counter-tactics.
    8. The highest level of classification of information included in 
this potential sale is SECRET.
    9. 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.
    10. A determination has been made that Italy 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.
    11. All defense articles and services listed in this transmittal 
have been authorized for release and export to Italy.

[FR Doc. 2020-28519 Filed 12-23-20; 8:45 am]
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