36(b)(1) Arms Sales Notification, 28835-28837 [2016-10890]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
• Office of the Secretary

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 90 (Tuesday, May 10, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 28835-28837]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-10890]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Office of the Secretary

[Transmittal No. 16-22]


36(b)(1) Arms Sales Notification

AGENCY: Department of Defense, Defense Security Cooperation Agency.

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. This is published to 
fulfill the requirements of section 155 of Public Law 104-164 dated 
July 21, 1996.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Heather N. Harwell, DSCA/LMO, (703) 
697-9217.
    The following is a copy of a letter to the Speaker of the House of 
Representatives, Transmittal 16-22 with attached Policy Justification.

    Dated: May 4, 2016.
Aaron Siegel,
Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.

[[Page 28836]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN10MY16.001

Transmittal No. 16-22
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 France
    (ii) Total Estimated Value:

Major Defense Equipment*..........  $60 million
Other.............................  $30 million
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  TOTAL...........................  $90 million
 

    (iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or 
Services under Consideration for Purchase:
    Major Defense Equipment (MDE): Twenty-one (21) Guided Multiple 
Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) Unitary Rocket Pods (six (6) rockets per 
pod for a total of one-hundred and twenty-six (126))
    Non-MDE: Also included are a GMLRS Unitary Quality Assurance Team 
(QAT), GMLRS publications, live fire data, software updates, and 
technical assistance.
    (iv) Military Department: U.S. Army (WAN)
    (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: 12 April 2016
    * as defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control Act.

[[Page 28837]]

POLICY JUSTIFICATION
    France--Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) Unitary Rocket 
Pods and Related Support
    The Government of France has requested a possible sale of twenty-
one (21) GMLRS Unitary Rocket Pods. Also included are a GMLRS Quality 
Assurance Team (QAT), GMLRS publications, live fire data, software 
updates, and technical assistance. The total estimated value of MDE is 
$60 million. The overall total estimated value is $90 million.
    This proposed sale will enhance the foreign policy and national 
security objectives of the United States by helping to improve the 
security of a NATO ally which has been, and continues to be an 
important force for political stability and economic progress. It is 
vital to the U.S. national interest to assist France to develop and 
maintain a strong and ready self-defense capability.
    France intends to use these missiles to expand its existing army 
architecture and improve its self-defense capabilities. France is a co-
developer of the GMLRS and has operational requirements for additional 
missiles. France 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 U.S. Army procured the GMLRS Unitary from Lockheed Martin 
Industries, Camden, Arkansas. The sale of these GMLRS Unitary will be 
from U.S. stock; therefore, Lockheed Martin will not be involved. There 
are no known offset agreements proposed in connection with this 
potential sale.
    Implementation of this proposed sale will require U.S. Government 
and contractor representatives to travel to France for equipment de-
processing, fielding, system checkout, and new equipment training.
    There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a 
result of this proposed sale.
Transmittal No. 16-22
Notice of Proposed Issuance of Letter of Offer Pursuant to Section 
36(b)(1) of the Arms Export Control Act, as amended
Annex
Item No. vii
    (vii) Sensitivity of Technology:
    1. The Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) M31 Unitary is 
the Army's primary munition for units fielding the High Mobility 
Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) and Multiple Launcher Rocket Systems 
(MLRS) M270A1 Rocket and Missile Launcher platforms. The M31 Unitary is 
a solid propellant artillery rocket that uses Global Positioning System 
(GPS)-aided inertial guidance to accurately and quickly deliver a 
single high-explosive blast fragmentation warhead on to point targets 
at ranges from 15 to 70 kilometers. The rockets are fired from a launch 
pod container that also serves as the storage and transportation 
container for the rockets. Each rocket pod holds six (6) total rockets.
    2. The GMLRS Unitary employs a multi-mode fuze consisting of an 
Electronic Safe and Arm Fuze (ESAF) and a Frequency-Modulating 
Continuous Wave-Directional Doppler Ranging (FMCW-DDR) height-of-burst 
sensor. The weapon has three fuzing modes--point detonating, post-
impact time delay, and proximity height of burst--which are all 
accomplished automatically via a launcher/fire control system 
electrical interface prior to launch. The height-of-burst sensor is not 
integrated with the fuze, but provides fire pulse input and interfaces 
with a mechanical fuze.
    3. The Army's FMCW-DDR height-of-burst technology comprises 
components and software requiring special production skills and is 
deemed state of the art. The sensitive aspects of the technology reside 
primarily in the design, development, production, and manufacturing 
data for the related components (integrated circuits and flex cable 
assembly) and in the methodology required to integrate those components 
onto the flex cable assembly to process embedded data (the software, 
algorithm, and operating parameters). The sole technology aspect of the 
FMCW-DDR present in the M31 proximity height-of-burst sensor is the 
signal processing algorithm (i.e. processing techniques) modified 
specifically for use in the M31. The disclosure of know-how, software, 
and other associated documentation for this sensitive technology is not 
authorized under this sale.
    4. A determination has been made that Government of France can 
provide 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 
France.
[FR Doc. 2016-10890 Filed 5-9-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 5001-06-P