Arms Sales Notification, 11953-11955 [2021-04125]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
• Office of the Secretary

[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 38 (Monday, March 1, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11953-11955]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-04125]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Office of the Secretary

[Transmittal No. 21-16]


Arms Sales Notification

AGENCY: Defense Security Cooperation Agency, Department of Defense 
(DoD).

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 21-16 with 
attached Policy Justification and Sensitivity of Technology.

    Dated: February 23, 2021.
Aaron T. Siegel,
Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.
BILLING CODE 5001-06-P

[[Page 11954]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN01MR21.014

Transmittal No. 21-16
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 Finland
    (ii) Total Estimated Value:

Major Defense Equipment *................  $81.0 million
Other....................................  $10.2 million
                                          ------------------------------
  TOTAL..................................  $91.2 million
 

    (iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or 
Services under Consideration for Purchase:
    Major Defense Equipment (MDE):
Twenty-Five (25) M30A2 Extended Range Guided Multiple Launch Rocket 
System-Alternative Warhead (ER GMLRS-AW) Pods
Ten (10) M31A2 Extended Range Guided Multiple Launch Rocket Systems--
Unitary (ER GMLRS-U) Pods

    Non-MDE: Also included is an ER GMLRS Materiel Release Package; 
Stockpile Reliability Program (SRP) support; Quality Assurance Testing 
(QAT) services; technical publications; U.S. Government and contractor 
technical and logistics support services; and other related elements of 
program and logistics support.
    (iv) Military Department: Army (FI-B-VBB)
    (v) Prior Related Cases, if any: None

[[Page 11955]]

    (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: February 17, 2021

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

POLICY JUSTIFICATION

Finland--Extended Range Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System

    The Government of Finland has requested to buy twenty-five (25) 
M30A2 Extended Range Guided Multiple Launch Rocket Systems--Alternative 
Warhead (ER GMLRS-AW) Pods; and ten (10) M31A2 Extended Range Guided 
Multiple Launch Rocket Systems--Unitary (ER GMLRS-U) Pods. Also 
included is an ER GMLRS Materiel Release Package; Stockpile Reliability 
Program (SRP) support; Quality Assurance Testing (QAT) services; 
technical publications; U.S. Government and contractor technical and 
logistics support services; and other related element of program and 
logistics support. The total estimated cost is $91.2 million.
    This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national 
security of the United States by improving the security of a trusted 
partner which is an important force for political stability and 
economic progress in Europe. It is vital to the U.S. national interest 
to assist Finland in developing and maintaining a strong and ready 
self-defense capability.
    Finland intends to use these defense articles and services to 
modernize its armed forces. Finland intends to expand its existing army 
architecture to counter potential threats. This will contribute to the 
Finland military's goal to upgrade its capability while enhancing 
interoperability between Finland, the United States, and other allies. 
Finland will have no difficulty absorbing these missiles into its armed 
forces.
    The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the 
basic military balance in the region.
    The principal contractor will be Lockheed Martin Corporation, 
Missile and Fire Control, Grand Prairie, TX. There are no known offsets 
associated with this potential sale.
    Implementation of this proposed sale will not require the 
assignment of U.S. Government or contractor representatives to Finland.
    There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a 
result of this proposed sale.
Transmittal No. 21-16
Notice of Proposed Issuance of Letter of Offer Pursuant to Section 
36(b)(1) of the Arms Export Control Act, as amended
    (vii) Sensitivity of Technology:
    1. The ER GMLRS provides a persistent, responsive, all-weather, 
rapidly deployed, long range, surface-to-surface, area- and point-
precision strike capability. The AW variant (XM403, also referred to as 
M30A2) carries a 200-pound fragmentation assembly filled with high 
explosives which, upon detonation, accelerates two layers of preformed 
penetrators optimized for effectiveness against large area and 
imprecisely located targets. The Unitary variant (XM404, also referred 
to as M31A2) is a 200-pound class unitary with a steel blast-
fragmentation case, designed for low collateral damage against point 
targets. The ER GMLRS maintains the accuracy and effectiveness 
demonstrated by the baseline GMLRS out to a maximum range of 150 km 
(double of GMLRS capability) while also including a new Height Of Burst 
(HOB) capability.
    2. The highest level of classified information associated with the 
sale of this equipment 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 or equivalent systems 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 Finland 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 
Finland.

[FR Doc. 2021-04125 Filed 2-26-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 5001-06-C