[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 61 (Thursday, March 30, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19106-19109]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-06627]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Office of the Secretary

[Transmittal No. 21-61]


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.

[[Page 19107]]


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 21-61 with 
attached Policy Justification and Sensitivity of Technology.

    Dated: March 27, 2023.
Aaron T. Siegel,
Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.
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[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN30MR23.007

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Transmittal No. 21-61
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 Australia
    (ii) Total Estimated Value:

Major Defense Equipment *...............  $665 million
Other...................................  $320 million
                                         -------------------------------
  TOTAL.................................  $985 million
 

    (iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or 
Services under Consideration for Purchase:
Major Defense Equipment (MDE):
    Twelve (12) MH-60R Multi-Mission Helicopters
    Thirty (30) T-700-GE-401C Engines (24 installed, 6 spares)
    Twelve (12) APS-153(V) Multi-Mode Radars (installed)
    Twelve (12) AN/AAS-44C(V) Multi-

[[Page 19108]]

Spectral Targeting Systems (installed)
    Thirty-four (34) Embedded Global Positioning System/Precise 
Positioning Service (GPS/PPS)/Inertial Navigation Systems (EGI) with 
Selective Availability/Anti-Spoofing Module (SAASM) (24 installed, 10 
spares)
    Twenty (20) Link 16 Multifunctional Information Distribution 
Systems (MIDS)--Joint Tactical Radio System (JTRS) (12 installed, 8 
spares)
    Twelve (12) GAU-61 Digital Rocket Launchers (aircraft provisions 
only)
    Twelve (12) Airborne Low Frequency Sonars (ALFS) (aircraft 
provisions only)
    Eighteen (18) AN/AAR-47 Missile Warning Systems (12 installed, 6 
spares)
    Eighteen (18) AN/ALE-47 Chaff and Flare Dispenser, Electronic 
Countermeasures (12 installed, 6 spares)
    Twelve (12) AN/ALQ-210 Electronic Support Measures (ESM) Systems 
(installed)
    Twenty-four (24) M299 Missile Launchers
    Twelve (12) GAU-21 Crew Served Guns aircraft provisions (installed, 
includes aircraft adapter, ammunition bin, and other accessories)
    Twelve (12) M240D Crew Served Gun Cradles (installed)
    Eighteen (18) AN/ARQ-59 Hawklink Radio Terminals (12 installed, 6 
spares)
Non-MDE:
    Also included are AN/ARC-210 RT-2036 UHF/VHF radios with 
Communications Security (COMSEC); AN/APX-123 Identification Friend or 
Foe (IFF) transponders; KIV-78; KIV-6; KOV-21; KGV-135A; Advanced Data 
Transfer Systems (ADTS); Airborne Low Frequency Sonars (ALFS) Training 
Simulators/Operational Machine Interface Assistants (ATS OMIA); spare 
engine containers; trade studies with industry to determine the 
feasibility and cost of implementing provisions for additional 
passenger seating and modifications to achieve enhanced crew 
survivability; defense services; spare and repair parts; support and 
test equipment; communication equipment; ferry support; publications 
and technical documentation; personnel training and training equipment; 
United States (U.S.) Government and contractor engineering, technical, 
and logistics support services; obsolescence engineering, integration, 
and test activities required to ensure readiness for the production of 
the Australian MH-60R helicopters; and other related elements of 
programmatic, technical and logistics support.
    (iv) Military Department: Navy (AT-P-SCO)
    (v) Prior Related Cases, if any: AT-P-SCF, AT-P-GXO, AT-P-KOA, AT-
P-KOB, AT-P-REZ
    (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: October 8, 2021

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

POLICY JUSTIFICATION

Australia--MH-60R Multi-Mission Helicopters and Related Defense 
Services

    The Government of Australia has requested to buy twelve (12) MH-60R 
Multi-Mission helicopters; thirty (30) T-700-GE-401C engines (24 
installed, 6 spares); twelve (12) APS-153(V) Multi-Mode Radars 
(installed); twelve (12) AN/AAS-44C(V) Multi-Spectral Targeting Systems 
(installed); thirty-four (34) Embedded Global Positioning System/
Precise Positioning Service (GPS/PPS)/Inertial Navigation Systems (EGI) 
with Selective Availability/Anti-Spoofing Module (SAASM) (24 installed, 
10 spares); twenty (20) Link 16 Multifunctional Information 
Distribution Systems (MIDS)--Joint Tactical Radio System (JTRS) (12 
installed, 8 spares); twelve (12) GAU-61 Digital Rocket Launchers 
(aircraft provisions only); twelve (12) Airborne Low Frequency Sonars 
(ALFS) (aircraft provisions only); eighteen (18) AN/AAR-47 Missile 
Warning Systems (12 installed, 6 spares); eighteen (18) AN/ALE-47 Chaff 
and Flare Dispenser, Electronic Countermeasures (12 installed, 6 
spares); twelve (12) AN/ALQ-210 Electronic Support Measures (ESM) 
Systems (installed); twenty-four (24) M299 Missile Launchers; twelve 
(12) GAU-21 Crew Served Guns aircraft provisions (installed, includes 
aircraft adapter, ammunition bin, and other accessories); twelve (12) 
M240D Crew Served Gun Cradles (installed); and eighteen (18) AN/ARQ-59 
Hawklink Radio Terminals (12 installed, 6 spares). Also included are 
AN/ARC-210 RT-2036 UHF/VHF radios with Communications Security 
(COMSEC); AN/APX-123 Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) transponders; 
KIV-78; KIV-6; KOV-21; KGV-135A; Advanced Data Transfer Systems (ADTS); 
Airborne Low Frequency Sonars (ALFS) Training Simulators/Operational 
Machine Interface Assistants (ATS OMIA); spare engine containers; trade 
studies with industry to determine the feasibility and cost of 
implementing provisions for additional passenger seating and 
modifications to achieve enhanced crew survivability; defense services; 
spare and repair parts; support and test equipment; communication 
equipment; ferry support; publications and technical documentation; 
personnel training and training equipment; United States (U.S.) 
Government and contractor engineering, technical, and logistics support 
services; obsolescence engineering, integration, and test activities 
required to ensure readiness for the production of the Australian MH-
60R helicopters; and other related elements of programmatic, technical 
and logistics support. The total estimated value is $985 million.
    This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national 
security objectives of the United States. Australia is one of our most 
important allies in the Western Pacific. The strategic location of this 
political and economic power contributes significantly to ensuring 
peace and economic stability in the region. It is vital to the U.S. 
national interest to assist our ally in developing and maintaining a 
strong and ready self-defense capability.
    This proposed sale will improve Australia's capability to perform 
anti-surface and anti-submarine warfare missions along with the ability 
to perform secondary missions including vertical replenishment, search 
and rescue, and communications relay. Australia will use the enhanced 
capability as a deterrent to regional threats and to strengthen its 
homeland defense. Australia will have no difficulty absorbing this 
equipment into its armed forces.
    The proposed sale of this equipment will not alter the basic 
military balance in the region.
    The principal U.S. contractor will be Lockheed Martin Rotary and 
Mission Systems, Owego, NY. There are no known offset agreements 
proposed in connection with this potential sale.
    Implementation of the proposed sale will require U.S. Government 
and contractor personnel to visit Australia on a temporary basis in 
conjunction with program technical oversight and support requirements, 
including program and technical reviews.

[[Page 19109]]

    There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a 
result of this proposed sale.
Transmittal No. 21-61
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 MH-60R Multi-Mission Helicopter is employed primarily for 
anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare missions. The MH-60R carries 
several sensors and data links to enhance its ability to work in a 
network-centric battle group and as an extension of its home ship/main 
operating base. The mission systems consist of the following sensors 
and subsystems: an acoustics system consisting of a dipping sonar, 
sonobuoys, and acoustics processor; Multi-Mode Radar (MMR) with 
integrated Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) interrogator; Radios with 
COMSEC; Electronic Support Measures (ESM); Integrated Self-Defense 
(ISD); and Multi-Spectral Targeting System (MTS).
    a. GPS/PPS/SAASM--Global Positioning System provides a space-based 
Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) that has reliable location 
and time information in all weather and at all times and anywhere on or 
near the earth when and where there is an unobstructed line of sight to 
four or more OPS satellites. Selective Availability/Anti-Spoofing 
Module (SAASM) is used by military OPS receivers to allow decryption of 
precision OPS coordinates. In addition, the OPS Antenna System (GAS-I) 
provides protection from enemy manipulation of the OPS system.
    b. The AN/APS-153 multi-mode radar with an integrated IFF and 
Inverse Synthetic Aperture (ISAR) provides target surveillance/
detection capability.
    c. The AN/ALQ-210 (ESM) system identifies the location of an 
emitter. The ability of the system to identify specific emitters 
depends on the data provided.
    d. The AN/AAS-44C(V) Multi-spectral Targeting System (MTS) operates 
in day/night and adverse weather conditions. Imagery is provided by a 
Forward-Looking Infrared (FLIR) sensor, a color/monochrome day 
television (DTV) camera, and a Low-Light TV (LLTV).
    e. Ultra High Frequency/Very High Frequency (UHF/VHF) Radios (ARC 
210) contain embedded sensitive encryption algorithms and keying 
material.
    2. The highest level of classification of defense articles, 
components, and services included in this potential sale is SECRET.
    3. 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.
    4. A determination has been made that Australia 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.
    5. All defense services listed in this transmittal have been 
authorized for release and export to the Government of Australia.

[FR Doc. 2023-06627 Filed 3-29-23; 8:45 am]
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