Arms Sales Notification, 35629-35637 [2019-15748]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
• Office of the Secretary

[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 142 (Wednesday, July 24, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35629-35637]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-15748]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Office of the Secretary

[Transmittal No. 17-39]


Arms Sales Notification

AGENCY: Defense Security Cooperation Agency, Department of Defense.

ACTION: Arms sales notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Defense is publishing the unclassified text 
of an arms sales notification.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Karma Job at [email protected] 
or (703) 697-8976.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This 36(b)(1) arms sales notification is 
published to fulfill the requirements of section 155 of Public Law 104-
164

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dated July 21, 1996. The following is a copy of a letter to the Speaker 
of the House of Representatives, Transmittal 17-39 with attached Policy 
Justification; Sensitivity of Technology; and State Department 
Emergency Determination and Justification.

    Dated: July 19, 2019.
Aaron T. Siegel,
Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.
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Transmittal No. 17-39
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: United Arab Emirates
    (ii) Total Estimated Value:

Major Defense Equipment *...............  $35 million
Other...................................  $45 million
                                         -------------------------------
  TOTAL.................................  $80 million
 

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

Twenty (20) RQ-21A Blackjack Unmanned Air Vehicles (UAVs)
    Non-MDE:
    This request also includes the following Non-MDE: Forty (40) Global 
Positioning Systems (GPS) with Selective Availability Anti-Spoofing 
Module (SAASM) Type II (MPE-S), air vehicle support equipment to 
include eight (8) Ground Control Stations (GCS), four (4) launchers, 
and four (4) retrievers, spare and repair parts, publications, training 
and technical support services.
    (iv) Military Department: Navy (AE-P-SAW)
    (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: May 24, 2019
    * As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control Act.

POLICY JUSTIFICATION

United Arab Emirates (UAE)--RQ-21A Blackjack Unmanned Air Vehicles

    The Government of the UAE has requested to buy twenty (20) RQ-21A 
Blackjack Unmanned Air Vehicles (UAVs). Also included are forty (40) 
Global Positioning Systems (GPS) with Selective Availability Anti-
Spoofing Module (SAASM) Type II (MPE-S); air vehicle support equipment 
including eight (8) Ground Control Stations (GCS), four (4) launchers, 
and four (4) retrievers; spare and repair parts; publications; 
training; and technical support services. The estimated total case 
value is $80 million.
    The Secretary of State has determined and provided detailed 
justification that an emergency exists that requires the immediate sale 
to the United Arab Emirates of the above defense articles (and defense 
services) in the national security interests of the United States, 
thereby waiving the Congressional review requirements under Section 
36(b) of the Arms Export Control Act, as amended.
    This proposed sale will contribute to the foreign and national 
security of the United States by improving the security of an important 
ally in the Middle East. This sale is consistent with U.S. national 
security objectives of assisting the UAE in developing and maintaining 
a strong and ready self-defense capability and enhancing 
interoperability with U.S. forces. The UAE will have no difficulty 
absorbing these UAVs into its armed forces.
    The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the 
basic military balance in the region.
    The prime contractor will be Insitu, Bingen, WA, a wholly owned 
subsidiary of the Boeing Company. There are no known offset agreements 
proposed in connection with this potential sale.
    Implementation of this proposed sale will require multiple trips by 
U.S. Government and contractor representatives to participate in 
program and technical reviews plus training and maintenance support in 
country, on a temporary basis, for a period of twenty-four (24) months. 
It will also require one (1) contractor representative to reside in 
country for a period of two (2) 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. 17-39
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 following components and technical documentation for the 
program are classified as listed below:
    a. The RQ-21 unmanned aircraft system (UAS) is a runway-
independent, modular unmanned aircraft system that is designed for a 
variety of missions. The RQ-21 UAS has four subsystems: RQ-21A air 
vehicle (AV), launcher, retriever, and ground control stations (GCS).
    1) The RQ-21A AV is a fixed-wing, single engine AV remotely 
controlled by an operator via the GCS.
    2) The launcher is a pneumatically-controlled launch device that 
accelerates the RQ-21A AV to flying speed.
    3) The retriever is a hydraulically-controlled telescoping crane 
that captures the RQ-21A AV at the end of the flight.
    4) The GCS is a workstation that is used to plan missions, control 
and monitor the RQ-21A AV, and manage the data received from the air 
vehicle.
    b. The RQ-21 UAS is capable of transport via ground, air, or ship. 
The RQ-21 UAS performs a wide variety of reconnaissance, intelligence, 
and special missions. Operationally or tactically vital data may be 
obtained cost-effectively by exploiting the UAS mission systems and 
payload options. The RQ-21A AV is designed to perform air 
reconnaissance (AR) based missions. It is equipped to carry a forward 
turret to support the primary mission of reconnaissance and an 
assortment of specialized, mission specific, payloads within the center 
payload bay. The Electro Optical/Infrared (EO/IR) Imager Counter 
Countermeasures sensor ball is the Alticam 11 EOIR4, which provides 
exceptional day/night capability in a small, lightweight, low power 
solution, or the EOIR5 which adds a laser designator capability. It 
uses mid-wave infrared (MWIR) electro-optical image, a gyro-stabilized 
gimbal system, has multiple operating modes, is compatible with the 
Alticam video processing board (AVS), and has a laser pointer and 
rangefinder. It is designed for small unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), 
and is also used on piloted airplanes, blimps, ground vehicles, and 
unmanned surface vehicles.
    c. The imagery and electronic reconnaissance functions of the RQ-
21A AV support intelligence functions and operational warfighting 
missions. Intelligence-based support functions range from intelligence, 
surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) to intelligence preparation of 
the battlefield (IPB) including imagery associated sub-tasks. 
Operational functions are enhanced by a laser rangefinder and infrared 
marking system. The turret, with laser system, facilitates target 
acquisition and terminal guidance operations in support of a wide 
breadth of aviation support to MAGTF operations mission. These include 
but are not limited to point, area, and route reconnaissance; convoy 
escort; call for indirect fires; battle damage assessment; and tactical 
recovery of aircraft and personnel. The aircraft also passively 
supports radio communications relay and the vessel traffic function of 
automatic identification.
    d. The GCS includes an operator work station (OWS), a ground data 
terminal for C2 communication and video downlink, and a GPS electronics 
module (GEM) integration kit for navigation. The GCS is composed of a

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standard component package. If installed on a ship, the GCS will be 
composed of the same components as the land based system, but the 
number and arrangement of each of the components will vary depending on 
the specific class of ship on which the GCS is installed. The RQ-21 GCS 
is comprised of the following components:
    1) Two operator work stations. The OWS consist of four modules: 
electronics power module (EPM), network computer module (NCM), user 
interface module (UIM), and the data storage module (DSM). The EPM 
provides the power source for the GCS. The EPM is the bottom module in 
the OWS. The UIM is not installed in the GCS for ship-based operations.
    2) Ground data terminal. The GDT includes the antenna interface 
module (AIM), directional antenna, and omni antennas (for ship-board 
operations only). The AIM models are different between land and ship-
based configurations.
    3) GEM integration kit. The GEM integration kit includes the GEM 
itself and the ground GPS antenna.
    4) Moving platform module (MPM) integration kit (ship-based only).
    5) Selective availability and anti-spoofing module (SAASM) GPS 
antenna.
    6) Systems check laptop.
    7) GCS cables.
    e. The launcher provides the initial RQ-21A AV speed required for 
air vehicle flight over a wide range of wind and density altitude 
conditions, and enables expeditionary employment of the UAS in 
locations without suitable runways. The launcher is designed for 
transport by air, ship, or towed by light vehicles into rugged terrain. 
The launcher is made up of the launcher core and systems and the 
accessory components. The launcher core is attached lengthwise on the 
launcher trailer deck at two interface towers. The trailer is used to 
transport the launcher components and serves as a platform for the 
launcher core and systems.
    f. The retriever system is comprised of the recovery system and 
trailer. The recovery system is a hydraulically-controlled telescoping 
crane mast that uses a vertical capture rope to catch the RQ-21A AV. 
The vertical capture rope features a bungee and rope energy dissipation 
system. The retriever is mounted to a modified MIL-STD trailer chassis. 
The trailer frame and hitch assembly connects the retriever to a towing 
vehicle. The trailer has one axle and four outriggers that are 
installed for use.
    g. While no part of the RQ-21A UAS is itself classified, the 
following performance data and technical characteristics are classified 
as annotated:

RQ-21 Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS)
    GPS P/Y Code navigation equipment...  SECRET when keyed.
    UAS Susceptibility to Jamming.......  SECRET.
    UAS TEMPEST Characteristics.........  SECRET.
    UAS Vulnerabilities.................  SECRET.
    UAS Survivability...................  SECRET.
    UAS Radar Cross Section.............  Up to SECRET.
    UAS Infrared Signature..............  SECRET.
    UAS Electromagnetic Interference      SECRET.
     (EMI) Vulnerability.
    UAS Threat Data.....................  SECRET.
    Communications Relay Tactical         CONFIDENTIAL.
     Employment.
    Electro Optical/Infrared (EO/IR)      SECRET.
     Imager Counter Countermeasures.
    EO/IR Imager Operational              SECRET.
     Characteristics Up to.
    Automatic Information System          SECRET.
     Vulnerabilities.
 

    2. If a technologically advanced adversary obtains knowledge of the 
specific hardware and software elements, the information could be used 
to develop countermeasures or equivalent systems that might reduce 
weapon system effectiveness or be used in the development of a system 
with similar or advanced capabilities.
    3. A determination has been made that the United Arab Emirates can 
provide substantially the same degree of protection for the sensitive 
technology being released as the U.S. Government. This proposed sale of 
the RQ-21 UAS and associated equipment is necessary to the furtherance 
of the U.S. foreign policy and national security objectives outlined in 
the policy justification.
    4. All defense articles and services listed in this transmittal are 
authorized for release and export to the Government of the United Arab 
Emirates.
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[FR Doc. 2019-15748 Filed 7-23-19; 8:45 am]
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