[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 63 (Monday, April 3, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19627-19630]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-06846]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Office of the Secretary

[Transmittal No. 21-52]


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

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House of Representatives, Transmittal 21-52 with attached Policy 
Justification and Sensitivity of Technology.

    Dated: March 29, 2023.
Aaron T. Siegel,
Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.
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Transmittal No. 21-52
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 Israel
    (ii) Total Estimated Value:

Major Defense Equipment *................  $ 2.4 billion
Other....................................  $ 1.0 billion
                                          ------------------------------
  TOTAL..................................  $ 3.4 billion
 

    Funding Source: Foreign Military Financing (FMF)
    (iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or 
Services under Consideration for Purchase:

Major Defense Equipment (MDE):
    Up to Eighteen (18) CH-53K Heavy Lift Helicopters
    Up to Sixty (60) T408-GE-400 Engines (54 installed, 6 spares)
    Up to Thirty-six (36) Embedded Global Positioning System/Inertial 
Navigation Systems (EGI) with Selective Availability/Anti-Spoofing 
Module (SAASM)

Non-MDE:
    Also included is communication equipment; GAU-21 .50 caliber 
Machine Guns; Mission Planning System; facilities study, design and 
construction; spare and repair parts; support and test equipment; 
publications and technical documentation; aircrew and maintenance 
training; U.S. Government and contractor engineering, technical, and 
logistics support services; and other related elements of logistics and 
program support.

    (iv) Military Department: Navy (IS-P-SCN)
    (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 Annex Attached
    (viii) Date Report Delivered to Congress: July 30, 2021
    *As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control Act.

POLICY JUSTIFICATION

Israel--CH-53K Heavy Lift Helicopters with Support

    The Government of Israel has requested to buy up to eighteen (18) 
CH-53K Heavy Lift Helicopters; up to sixty (60) T408-GE-400 Engines (54 
installed, 6 spares); and up to thirty-six (36) Embedded Global 
Positioning System/Inertial Navigation Systems (EGI) with Selective 
Availability/Anti-Spoofing Module (SAASM). Also included is 
communication equipment; GAU-21 .50 caliber Machine Guns; Mission 
Planning System; facilities study, design and construction; spare and 
repair parts; support and test equipment; publications and technical 
documentation; aircrew and maintenance training; U.S. Government and 
contractor engineering, technical, and logistics support services; and 
other related elements of logistics and program support. The total 
estimated cost is $3.4 billion.
    The United States is committed to the security of Israel, and it is 
vital to U.S. national interests to assist Israel to develop and 
maintain a strong and ready self-defense capability. This proposed sale 
is consistent with those objectives.
    The proposed sale will improve the Israeli Air Force's capability 
to transport armored vehicles, personnel, and equipment to support 
distributed operations deep inland from a sea-based center of 
operations. Israel will use the enhanced capability as a deterrent to 
regional threats and to strengthen its homeland defense. Israel will 
have no difficulty absorbing this equipment 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 Global, Inc., 
Shelton, Connecticut; and General Electric Company, Lynn, 
Massachusetts. There are no known offset agreements proposed in 
connection with this potential sale. Any offset agreements will be 
defined in negotiations between the purchaser and the contractor(s).
    Implementation of this proposed sale will require multiple trips by 
U.S. Government and contractor representatives to participate in 
program and technical reviews. It will also require approximately four 
(4) contractor support representatives to reside in country for a 
period of three (3) years to support this program.
    There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a 
result of this proposed sale.
Transmittal No. 21-52
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 CH-53K Heavy Lift Helicopter focuses primarily on the 
transport of armored vehicles, personnel, and equipment to support 
distributed operations deep inland from a sea-based center of 
operations. The CH-53K carries several sensors and data links to 
enhance its ability to operate in hostile environments and in 
coordination with group forces. The aircraft is night vision 
compatible. The sensitive technologies include:
    a. Communications security devices contain sensitive encryption 
algorithms and keying material. The purchasing country has previously 
been released and utilizes COMSEC devices in accordance with set 
procedures and without issue.
    b. Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) (KIV-78) contains embedded 
security devices containing sensitive encryption algorithms and keying 
material. The purchasing country will utilize COMSEC devices in 
accordance with set procedures.
    c. GPS PPS/SAASM/MGUE/ADAP--Global Positioning System (GPS) Precise 
Positioning Service (PPS) provides space-based Global Navigation 
Satellite System (GNSS) signals that have reliable location and time 
information in all weather, at all times, and anywhere on or near the 
earth when and where there is an unobstructed line of sight to four or 
more GPS satellites. The Selective Availability/Anti-Spoofing Module 
(SAASM) and Modernized GPS User Equipment (MGUE) are used as military 
embedded GPS receivers (EGRs) to provide for decryption and use of the 
GPS PPS by the Embedded GPS/Inertial Navigation System (EGI). In 
addition, the Advanced Digital Antenna Production (ADAP) GPS anti-jam 
protection system provides electronic protection from enemy 
countermeasures to disrupt and jam GPS signals. The combination of the 
EGI and the ADAP provide for robust positioning, navigation, and timing 
(PNT) capability.
    2. All the mission data, including sensitive parameters, is loaded 
from an off board station before each flight and does not stay with the 
aircraft after electrical power has been removed. Sensitive 
technologies are protected as defined in the program protection and 
anti-tamper plans.
    3. The highest level of classification of defense articles, 
components, and services included in this potential sale is SECRET.
    4. If a technologically advanced adversary were to obtain knowledge 
of the specific hardware or 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 Israel can provide 
substantially the same degree of protection for the

[[Page 19630]]

sensitive technology being released as the U.S. Government. This 
proposed sale is necessary in furtherance of the U.S. foreign policy 
and national security objectives outlined in the Policy Justification.
    6. All defense articles and services listed in this transmittal are 
authorized for release and export to the Government of Israel.

[FR Doc. 2023-06846 Filed 3-31-23; 8:45 am]
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