[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 102 (Friday, May 24, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45866-45868]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-11525]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Office of the Secretary

[Transmittal No. 22-27]


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 22-27 with 
attached Policy Justification and Sensitivity of Technology.

    Dated: May 21, 2024.
Aaron T. Siegel,
Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.
BILLING CODE 6001-FR-P

[[Page 45867]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN24MY24.002

BILLING CODE 6001-FR-C
Transmittal No. 22-27
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 *................  $52 million
Other....................................  $42 million
                                          ------------------------------
  Total..................................  $94 million
 

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

Up to fifteen (15) AGM-88E2 Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile 
(AARGM) Guidance Sections
Up to fifteen (15) AARGM Control Sections
Up to fifteen (15) High Speed Anti-Radiation Missiles (HARM) Rocket 
Motors
Up to fifteen (15) HARM Warheads
Up to fifteen (15) HARM Control Sections

    Non-MDE:
    Also included are AGM-88E2 AARGM All Up Round (AUR) tactical 
missiles; AGM-88E2 AARGM Captive Air Training Missile (CATM); HARM G-
Code AUR; HARM G-Code CATM; M-Code GPS receivers; containers; support 
and test equipment; EA-18G Growler test support; spare and repair 
parts; software (Classified and Unclassified); U.S. Government and 
contractor engineering support; and other related elements of 
logistical and program support.

[[Page 45868]]

    (iv) Military Department: Navy (AT-P-AQT)
    (v) Prior Related Cases, if any: AT-P-LFT
    (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: June 21, 2022
    * As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control Act.

POLICY JUSTIFICATION

Australia--AGM-88E2 AARGM E2 Missiles

    The Government of Australia has requested to buy up to fifteen (15) 
AGM-88E2 Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile (AARGM) Guidance 
Sections; up to fifteen (15) AARGM Control Sections; up to fifteen (15) 
High Speed Anti-Radiation Missiles (HARM) Rocket Motors; up to fifteen 
(15) HARM Warheads; and up to fifteen (15) HARM Control Sections. Also 
included are AGM-88E2 AARGM All Up Round (AUR) tactical missiles; AGM-
88E2 AARGM Captive Air Training Missile (CATM); HARM G-Code AUR; HARM 
G-Code CATM; M-Code GPS receivers; containers; support and test 
equipment; EA-18G Growler test support; spare and repair parts; 
software (Classified and Unclassified); U.S. Government and contractor 
engineering support; and other related elements of logistical and 
program support. The estimated total value is $94 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.
    The proposed sale will improve Australia's capability to meet 
current and future threats by suppressing and destroying land- or sea-
based radar emitters associated with enemy air defenses. Destruction or 
suppression of enemy radar denies the adversary the use of air defense 
systems, thereby improving the survivability of its tactical aircraft. 
Australia 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 principal contractors will be Northrop Grumman Information 
Systems (NGIS), Ridgecrest, CA. 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 representatives to visit Australia on a temporary basis 
in conjunction with program technical oversight and support 
requirements, including program and technical reviews.
    There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a 
result of this proposed sale.
Transmittal No. 22-27
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 AGM-88E2 Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile (AARGM) 
weapon system is an air-to-ground missile intended for Suppression of 
Enemy Air Defenses (SEAD) and Destruction of Enemy Air Defenses (DEAD) 
missions. The AARGM E2 provides suppression or destruction of enemy 
radar and denies the enemy the use of air defense systems, thereby 
improving the survivability of tactical aircraft. The AGM-88E2 AARGM 
Captive Air Training Missiles (CATM) is used by pilots when training 
for SEAD/DEAD missions.
    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 articles and services listed in this transmittal 
have been authorized for release and export to the Government of 
Australia.

[FR Doc. 2024-11525 Filed 5-23-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6001-FR-P