[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 55 (Wednesday, March 22, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17195-17198]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-05825]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Office of the Secretary

[Transmittal No. 21-44]


Arms Sales Notification

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

ACTION: Arms sales notice.

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SUMMARY: The DoD is publishing the unclassified text of an arms sales 
notification.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Neil Hedlund at 
[email protected] or (703) 697-9214.

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 21-44 with 
attached Policy Justification and Sensitivity of Technology.

    Dated: March 16, 2023.
Aaron T. Siegel,
Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.
BILLING CODE 5001-06-P

[[Page 17196]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN22MR23.002

BILLING CODE 5001-06-C
Transmittal No. 21-44
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: Taipei Economic and Cultural 
Representative Office in the United States (TECRO)
    (ii) Total Estimated Value:

Major Defense Equipment *...............  $635 million
Other...................................  $115 million
                                         -------------------------------
  TOTAL.................................  $750 million
 
Funding Source: National Funds.

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

Major Defense Equipment (MDE):
Forty (40) 155mm M109A6 Medium Self-Propelled Howitzer Systems
Twenty (20) M992A2 Field Artillery Ammunition Support Vehicle (FAASV)
One (1) Advanced Field Artillery Tactical Data System (AFATDS)
Five (5) M88A2 Hercules Vehicles

[[Page 17197]]

Five (5) M2 Chrysler Mount .50 Caliber Machine Guns
One thousand six hundred ninety-eight (1,698) Multi-Option, Precision 
Guidance Kits (PGK)
Non-MDE:
Also included are M109A6/M992A2 overhaul, conversion and refurbishment 
services; Special Tools and Test Equipment (STTE); Defense Advanced 
Global Positioning System (GPS) Receiver; AN/VVS(2) Night Driver's 
Viewer (NDV); Dynamic Reference Unit Hybrid Replacement Inertial 
Navigation System; Basic Issue Items (BII); Program Management Support; 
Verification Testing; System Technical Support; Transportation; Spare 
and repair parts; communication support equipment; communication 
equipment integration; tools and test equipment; personnel training and 
training equipment; repair and return program; camouflage nets; 
Components of End Items (COEI), Additional Authorized List (AAL), 
Technical Manuals; Quality Assurance Team (QAT); 155mm M232A1 
Propelling Charges, M82 Percussion Primer Fuzes, support and test 
equipment, integration and test support, software delivery, 
publications and technical documentation. U.S. Government and 
contractor engineering; technical and logistics support services; 
storage; and other related elements of logistics and program support; 
OCONUS Deprocessing Service; Export Single Channel Ground and Airborne 
Radio System (SINCGARS); OCONUS Contractor provided Training, Field 
Service Representatives (FSR); M2A1 .50 Cal MG; MK93 MOD 2 Mount 
Machine Gun; M239 Smoke Grenade Launchers, U.S. Government and 
contractor representatives' technical assistance, engineering and 
logistics support services, and other related elements of logistics 
support.

    (iv) Military Department: Army (TW-B-ZDI)
    (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: August 4, 2021
    * As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control Act.

POLICY JUSTIFICATION

Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States 
(TECRO)--155mm M109A6 Paladin Medium Self-Propelled Howitzer System

    TECRO has requested to buy forty (40) 155mm M109A6 Medium Self-
Propelled Howitzer Systems; twenty (20) M992A2 Field Artillery 
Ammunition Support Vehicles (FAASV); one (1) Advanced Field Artillery 
Tactical Data System (AFATDS); five (5) M88A2 Hercules vehicles; five 
(5) M2 Chrysler Mount .50 caliber machine guns; and one thousand six 
hundred ninety-eight (1,698) multi-option, Precision Guidance Kits 
(PGK). Also included are M109A6/M992A2 overhaul, conversion and 
refurbishment services; Special Tools and Test Equipment (STTE); 
Defense Advanced Global Positioning System (GPS) Receiver; AN/VVS(2) 
Night Driver's Viewer (NDV); Dynamic Reference Unit Hybrid Replacement 
Inertial Navigation System; Basic Issue Items (BII); Program Management 
Support; Verification Testing; System Technical Support; 
Transportation; Spare and repair parts; communication support 
equipment; communication equipment integration; tools and test 
equipment; personnel training and training equipment; repair and return 
program; camouflage nets; Components of End Items (COEI), Additional 
Authorized List (AAL), Technical Manuals; Quality Assurance Team (QAT); 
155mm M232A1 Propelling Charges, M82 Percussion Primer Fuzes, support 
and test equipment, integration and test support, software delivery, 
publications and technical documentation. U.S. Government and 
contractor engineering; technical and logistics support services; 
storage; and other related elements of logistics and program support; 
OCONUS Deprocessing Service; Export Single Channel Ground and Airborne 
Radio System (SINCGARS); OCONUS Contractor provided Training, Field 
Service Representatives (FSR); M2A1 .50 Cal MG; MK93 MOD 2 Mount 
Machine Gun; M239 Smoke Grenade Launchers, U.S. Government and 
contractor representatives' technical assistance, engineering and 
logistics support services, and other related elements of logistics 
support. The total estimated program cost is $750 million.
    This proposed sale is consistent with U.S. law and policy as 
expressed in Public Law 96-8.
    This proposed sale serves U.S. national, economic, and security 
interests by supporting the recipient's continuing efforts to modernize 
its armed forces and to maintain a credible defensive capability. The 
proposed sale will help improve the security of the recipient and 
assist in maintaining political stability, military balance, economic 
and progress in the region.
    This proposed sale of M109A6 SPH will contribute to the 
modernization of the recipient's self-propelled howitzer fleet, 
enhancing its ability to meet current and future threats. These systems 
will contribute to the recipient's goal of updating its military 
capability while further enhancing interoperability with the United 
States and other allies. The recipient 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 prime contractor for the Self-Propelled Howitzer Systems will 
be BAE Systems, Anniston, AL, and Elgin, OK; M992A2 FAASV, Anniston 
Army Depot (ANAD), Bynum, AL; and M88A2 recovery vehicles, BAE, York, 
PA. The purchaser has requested offsets. At this time, agreements are 
undetermined and will be defined in negotiations between the purchaser 
and contractor.
    Implementation of this proposed sale will not require the permanent 
assignment of any additional U.S. Government or contractor 
representatives to recipient. Support teams will travel to recipient on 
a temporary basis.
    There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a 
result of this proposed sale.
Transmittal No. 21-44
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 Paladin M109A6 howitzer is the fifth product improvement to 
the original M109 self-propelled howitzer. It features improvements in 
the areas of survivability; reliability, availability, and 
maintainability (RAM); responsiveness; and terminal effects. The M109A6 
is an armored, full tracked howitzer carrying 37 complete conventional 
rounds and two Copperhead projectiles and is operated by a crew of 
four. It is designed with a new turret structure that facilitates 
integration of the various turret improvements and vulnerability 
reduction measures. It improves overall crew compartment layout and 
space. The howitzer can travel at a maximum speed of 38 miles per hour 
and has a maximum cruising range of 186 miles.

[[Page 17198]]

The M109A6 can operate independently, on the move, it can receive a 
fire mission, compute firing data, select and take up its firing 
position, automatically unlock and point its cannon, fire and move--all 
without external technical assistance. Firing the first round following 
a move in under 60 seconds, a ``shoot and scoot'' capability protects 
the crew from counterbattery fire. The M109A6 is capable of firing up 
to four rounds per minute to ranges of 30 kilometers. The M109A6 
features increased survivability characteristics such as day/night 
operability, Nuclear, Biological, Chemical (NBC) protection with 
climate control and secure voice and digital communications. The crew 
remains in the vehicle throughout the mission.
    2. The Inertial Navigation Unit (INU) component provides the 
vehicle with its own position location utilizing sensors that 
continuously calculates its direction and velocity without the 
continuous dependency of a GPS; the INU receives GPS data from an 
external GPS receiver as an input when available to provide better 
precision. The INU allows the vehicle to more precisely calculate its 
position to other components in the vehicle to improve its functions 
and safety of use; these functions include movement and maneuver of the 
vehicle, movement of the turret, and pointing of the gun tube.
    3. The Electronic Fire Control System (EFCS) commonly referred to 
as the Paladin Fire Control System (PFCS) is the major change for the 
Paladin M109A6 Howitzer from the manual fire control system used on the 
M109A5. This gives the howitzer the ability to operate over a widely 
dispersed area and to move and emplace using the on board fire control 
navigation and GPS system. The M109A6 can move and position within an 
assigned position area, process technical firing data, and fire a 
mission without relying on aiming circles and wire lines. The M109A6 
can change position more frequently, an advantage against enemy fire. 
Such advancements give new meaning to the artillery's ability to move, 
shoot and communicate. In addition, the EFCS with embedded electronic 
diagnostics improves maintenance and repair functions by assisting in 
pinpointing faults.
    4. The Defense Advanced GPS (Global Positioning System) Receiver 
(DAGR) is a lightweight (less than 2 pounds) hand-held or host 
platform-mounted, dual frequency (L1/L2), Selective Availability Anti-
Spoofing Module (SAASM) based, Precise Positioning Service (PPS) device 
that receives and decodes the L1 and L2 signals-in-space which are 
transmitted by the NAVSTAR GPS satellite constellation. The DAGR 
provides real-time positioning, velocity (ground speed), navigation, 
and timing (PVNT) information, in stand-alone (dismounted) and mounted 
(ground facilities, sea, air, and land vehicles) configurations. The 
DAGR can support missions involving land-based war-fighting and non-war 
fighting operations. The DAGR can also be used as a secondary or 
supplemental aid to aviation-based missions which involve operations in 
low-dynamic aircraft, and as an aid to navigation in water-borne 
operations.
    5. The M1156 Precision Guidance Kit (PGK) is a Global Positioning 
System (GPS) Guidance Kit with fuzing functions for the M795 and M549A1 
155mm High Explosive (HE) Artillery Projectiles. The PGK corrects the 
ballistic trajectory of the projectile to reduce delivery errors and 
thus improves projectile accuracy. The PGK will effectively reduce 
target delivery error of conventional artillery munitions and reduce 
the number of projectiles required to execute a fire mission.
    6. The 155mm M232A1 Propelling Charge (DODIC DA13), will be used in 
M109 series howitzers. The Modular Artillery Charge System (MACS) 
consists of two propelling charge module types, the M231 and the M232/
M232A1, and their associated packaging. The system is compatible with 
all current and planned 155mm field artillery weapons.
    7. The M82 Percussion Primer (DODIC N523) will be used in M109 
series howitzers.
    8. The International Field Artillery Tactical Data System is the 
international export version of the Army's Advanced Field Artillery 
Tactical Data System (AFATDS). It provides networked and fully 
automated support for the planning, coordination, control, and 
execution of fires and effects such as mortars, field artillery, 
rockets and missiles, and close air support. International versions are 
developed for each customer unique to the weapon and targeting systems 
in their inventory.
    9. Field Artillery Ammunition Support Vehicle (FAASV) M992A2 this 
ammunition vehicle has no turret, but has a taller superstructure to 
store 95 rounds with a corresponding number of powders and primers. 
Until recently, much of the remaining internal crew space was taken up 
by a hydraulically powered conveyor system designed to allow the quick 
uploading of rounds or their transfer to the M109-series howitzer.
    10. Heavy Equipment Recovery Combat Utility Lift and Evacuation 
System (HERCULES) Improved Recovery Vehicle--M88A2 recovers tanks mired 
to different depths removes and replaces tank turrets and power packs, 
and uprights overturned heavy combat vehicles. The main winch of the 
M88A2 is capable of a 70-ton, single-line recovery, allowing the 
HERCULES to provide recovery of the 70-Ton M1A2 Abrams Tank.
    11. The A-frame boom and hoist winch of the M88A2 can lift 35 tons. 
The spade can be used to anchor the vehicle when using the main winch 
and can be used for light earth moving to prepare a recovery area. The 
M88A2 employs an auxiliary power unit to provide auxiliary electrical 
and hydraulic power when the main engine is not in operation. It can 
also be used to slave start other vehicles, as well as a means to 
refuel or defuel vehicles. The M88A2 can refuel Abrams tanks from its 
own fuel tank.
    12. The Browning M2 is an air-cooled, belt-fed machine gun. The M2 
fires from a closed bolt, operated on the short recoil principle. The 
M2 fires the .50 BMG cartridge, which offers long range, accuracy, and 
immense stopping power.
    13. The highest level of classification of defense articles, 
components, and services included in this potential sale is SECRET.
    14. 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.
    15. A determination has been made that the recipient 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.
    16. All defense articles and services listed in this transmittal 
have been authorized for release and export to the recipient.

[FR Doc. 2023-05825 Filed 3-21-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 5001-06-P