36(b)(1) Arms Sales Notification, 24317-24319 [2017-10898]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
• Office of the Secretary

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 101 (Friday, May 26, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24317-24319]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-10898]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Office of the Secretary

[Transmittal No. 17-06]


36(b)(1) Arms Sales Notification

AGENCY: Defense Security Cooperation Agency, Department of Defense.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Defense is publishing the unclassified text 
of a section 36(b)(1) arms sales notification.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kathy Valadez, (703) 697-9217 or 
Pamela Young, (703) 697-9107; DSCA/DSA-RAN.

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 17-06 with 
attached Policy Justification and Sensitivity of Technology.

    Dated: May 23, 2017.
Aaron Siegel,
Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.

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Transmittal No. 17-06
Notice of Proposed Issuance of Letter of Offer Pursuant to Section 
36(b)( l ) of the Arms Export Control Act, as amended
    (i) Prospective Purchaser: NATO Support and Procurement Agency 
(NSPA)
    (ii) Total Estimated Value:

Major Defense Equipment *................  $25.0 million
Other....................................  $8.5 million
                                          ------------------------------
  Total..................................  $33.5 million
 

    (iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or 
Services under Consideration for Purchase:
    The NATO Support and Procurement Agency requested the sale of AN/
AAQ-24(V) Large Aircraft Infrared Countermeasures (LAIRCM) components 
to support the upgrade of the LAIRCM system on three C-17 aircraft, 
along with spares.
    Major Defense Equipment (MDE):
    Fourteen (14) Guardian Laser Terminal Assemblies (GLTA) (9 + 5 
spares)
    Six (6) LAIRCM System Processor Replacements (LSPR) (3 + 3 spares)
    Non-MDE:
    This request also includes contractor spares, consumables, support 
equipment, technical data, aircraft installation, flight test, 
certification, publications, training, program and logistics support 
services.
    (iv) Military Department: Air Force
    (v) Prior Related Cases, if any: K8-D-QAE
    (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: April 27, 2017
    *as defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control Act.

POLICY JUSTIFICATION

NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA)--Large Aircraft Infrared 
Countermeasures (LAIRCM) System Components

    The NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) requested the sale 
of fourteen (14) Guardian Laser Transmitter Assemblies (GLTA) and six 
(6) LAIRCM System Processor Replacements (LSPR) along with contractor 
spares, consumables, support equipment, technical data, aircraft 
installation, flight test, certification, publications and training in 
order to upgrade the AN/AAQ-24(V) LAIRCM system on three (3) of its C-
17 aircraft. The estimated total value is $33.5 million.
    This proposed sale contributes to the foreign policy and national 
security of the United States by enhancing the aircraft self-protection 
capabilities of C-17 aircraft operated by the NATO Airlift Management 
(NAM) Programme, a consortium of 12 nations, including the United 
States. The partner nations in this program fly missions in and around 
Europe, Afghanistan, Iraq, the Levant, and North Africa. This sale an 
enhanced military capability for the NAM, and will assist its 
associated nations in providing airlift for personnel and equipment to 
locations requiring enhanced threat countermeasures.
    The proposed sale advances U.S. and NATO policy goals of expanding 
the capabilities of strategic airlift to NATO allies and partners. The 
capabilities associated with this proposed sale bolster the military 
strength of the NATO alliance and its partners by increasing the self-
protection capabilities of NAM airlift aircraft. NSPA will have no 
difficulty absorbing this equipment.
    As these systems are defensive in nature, the proposed sale of this 
equipment and support will not alter the basic military balance in the 
region.
    The prime contractor for production is Northrup Grumman of Rolling 
Meadows, Illinois. There are no known offset agreements proposed in 
connection with this potential sale.
    Implementation of this proposed sale will not require the 
assignment of any additional U.S. Government or contractor 
representatives to NATO.
    There will be no adverse impact to U.S. defense readiness as a 
result of this proposed sale.
Transmittal No. 17-06
Notice of Proposed Issuance of Letter of Offer Pursuant to Section 
36(b)( l ) of the Arms Export Control Act
Annex Item
No. vii
    (vii) Sensitivity of Technology:
    1. The AN/AAQ-24V Large Aircraft Infrared Countermeasures (LAIRCM) 
is a self-contained, directed energy countermeasures system designed to 
protect aircraft from infrared-guided surface-to-air missiles. The 
system features digital technology and micro-miniature solid-state 
electronics. The system operates in all conditions, detecting incoming 
missiles and jamming infrared-seeker equipped missiles with aimed 
bursts of laser energy. The LAIRCM system components required to 
upgrade the system are the Guardian Laser Transmitter Assemblies (GLTA) 
and LAIRCM System Processor Replacement (LSPR). The upgraded LAIRCM for 
the C-17 uses three (3) GLTA and one (1) LSPR. LAIRCM system software, 
including Operational Flight Program is classified SECRET. Technical 
data and documentation to be provided are UNCLASSIFIED.
    a. The LSPR component analyzes the data from each Missile Warning 
System Sensor and automatically deploys the appropriate countermeasure 
via the GLTA.
    b. The GLTA uses aimed bursts of laser energy to jam infrared 
seeker equipped missiles when directed by the LSPR. The hardware is 
UNCLASSIFIED. The software is SECRET. Technical data and documentation 
to be provided are UNCLASSIFIED.
    2. If a technologically advanced adversary were to obtain knowledge 
of the specific 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.
    3. This sale is necessary in furtherance of the U.S. foreign policy 
and national security objectives outlined in the Policy Justification. 
Moreover, the benefits to be derived from this sale, as outlined in the 
Policy Justification, outweigh the potential damage that could result 
if the sensitive technology were revealed to unauthorized persons.
    4. All defense articles and services listed in this transmittal are 
authorized for release and export to the NATO Support and Procurement 
Agency, NATO Airlift Management Program pursuant to the NATO C-17 SAC 
MOU.
[FR Doc. 2017-10898 Filed 5-25-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 5001-06-P