Arms Sales Notification, 70509-70511 [2019-27603]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
• Office of the Secretary

[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 246 (Monday, December 23, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 70509-70511]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-27603]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Office of the Secretary

[Transmittal No. 19-35]


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 dated July 21, 1996. The following is a copy of a letter to the 
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Transmittal 19-35 with 
attached Policy Justification and Sensitivity of Technology.

    Dated: December 17, 2019.
Aaron T. Siegel,
Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.
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[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN23DE19.007

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Transmittal No. 19-35
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 Canada
    (ii) Total Estimated Value:

Major Defense Equipment *................  $38 million
Other....................................  $ 6 million
                                          ------------------------------
  TOTAL..................................  $44 million
 

    (iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or 
Services under Consideration for Purchase:
Major Defense Equipment (MDE): One hundred fifty-two (152) MIDS JTRS 
(5) with Remote Power Supply
Non-MDE: Also included are spare cables and MIDS batteries; Link-16 
mobile racks; diagnostic support tools; technical documentation; 
training and engineering technical support; and other related elements 
of logistics and program support.
    (iv) Military Department: Navy (CN-P-LKT)
    (v) Prior Related Cases, if any: None

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    (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: July 29, 2019

    * As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control Act.

POLICY JUSTIFICATION

Canada-Multifunctional Information Distribution System (MIDS)--Joint 
Tactical Radio System (JTRS) (5)

    The Government of Canada has requested to buy one hundred fifty-two 
(152) MIDS JTRS (5) with Remote Power Supply. Also included are spare 
cables and MIDS batteries; Link-16 mobile racks; diagnostic support 
tools; technical documentation; training and engineering technical 
support; and other related elements of logistics and program support. 
The total estimated program cost is $44 million.
    This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national 
security objectives of the United States by helping to improve the 
military capability of Canada, a NATO ally that is an important force 
for ensuring political stability and economic progress and a 
contributor to military, peacekeeping and humanitarian operations 
around the world.
    Canada intends to upgrade its current inventory of CF-18 Aircraft, 
CC-130J, and the Royal Canadian Air Force's Ground Stations with the 
purchase of these MIDS JTRS (5) terminals to be fully interoperable 
with U.S. and allied forces to support and compliment joint operations 
in a net-enabled environment; have modernized electronic protection and 
secure, jam-resistant wave forms; and be capable of improved Link 16 
message exchange and information fidelity including support to advanced 
weapon employment. Canada 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 for MIDS JTRS are Viasat, Incorporated, 
headquartered in Carlsbad, CA and Data Link Solutions, headquartered in 
Cedar Rapids, IA. The Government of Canada is expected to negotiate an 
offset agreement with the principal contractor(s), in accordance with 
Canada's Industrial and Technological Benefits (ITB) Policy, before 
signing the Letter of Offer and Acceptance (LOA), but details are not 
known at this time.
    Implementation of this proposed sale will not require the 
assignment of additional U.S. Government or contractor representatives 
to Canada. However, it is anticipated that engineering and technical 
support services provided by the U.S. Government may be required on an 
interim basis for training and technical assistance.
    There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a 
result of this proposed sale.
Transmittal No. 19-35
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 Multifunctional Information Distribution System (MIDS) Joint 
Tactical Radio (JTRS) is a software defined radio. The MIDS JTRS 
Programmable Secure Information Security Architecture Module (PSISAM) 
is Critical Program Information (CPI). The PSISAM is embedded in a MIDS 
JTRS Shop Replaceable Unit (SRU) and contains the information security 
hardware and cryptographic keys necessary to operate the terminal. MIDS 
JTRS contains embedded COMSEC and is capable of processing up to TOP 
SECRET information. Each MIDS JTRS contains an embedded SRU that is 
UNCLASSIFIED Controlled Cryptographic Information (CCI). Un-keyed 
terminals and de-energized terminals are UNCLASSIFIED CCI. When a 
terminal is operating on the host platform it is classified up to the 
level of data being transmitted.
    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 weapon system effectiveness or be used in the development of a 
system with similar or advanced capabilities.
    3. A determination has been made that Canada can provide 
substantially the same degree of protection for the technology being 
released as the U.S. Government. This sale supports the U.S. foreign 
policy and national security objectives as outlined in the Policy 
Justification.
    4. All defense articles and services listed in this transmittal 
have been authorized for release and export to Canada.

[FR Doc. 2019-27603 Filed 12-20-19; 8:45 am]
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