Arms Sales Notification, 9506-9508 [2023-03107]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
• Office of the Secretary

[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 30 (Tuesday, February 14, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9506-9508]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-03107]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Office of the Secretary

[Transmittal No. 21-53]


Arms Sales Notification

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

ACTION: Arms sales notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Neil Hedlund at 
[email protected] or (703) 697-9214.

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 21-53 with 
attached Policy Justification and Sensitivity of Technology.

    Dated: February 9, 2023.
Aaron T. Siegel,
Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.
BILLING CODE 5001-06-P

[[Page 9507]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN14FE23.011

BILLING CODE 5001-06-C
Transmittal No. 21-53
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 Thailand.
    (ii) Total Estimated Value:

Major Defense Equipment *...............  $71.5 million.
Other...................................  $12.0 million.
                                         -------------------------------
  Total.................................  $83.5 million.
 
Funding Source: National Funds.

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

Three Hundred (300) Javelin FGM-148 Missiles
Fifty (50) Javelin Command Launch Units (CLU)

    Non-MDE:

    Also included are Enhanced Producibility Basic Skills Trainers; 
missile simulation rounds; Security Assistance Management Directorate 
(SAMD) Technical Assistance; Tactical Aviation and Ground Munitions 
(TAGM) Project Office Technical Assistance; contractor lifecycle 
support; spares manuals; batteries/chargers; gunner training; 
ammunition officer training; OCONUS Modified Level 2 Maintenance 
Training; System

[[Page 9508]]

Inspection and Check Out (SICO); and other related elements of 
logistical and program support.
    (iv) Military Department: Army (TH-B-WHL, TH-B-WHI).
    (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 Articles 
or Defense Services Proposed to be Sold: See Attached Annex.
    (viii) Date Report Delivered to Congress: July 30, 2021.
    * As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control Act.

POLICY JUSTIFICATION

Thailand--Javelin Missiles

    The Government of Thailand has requested to buy three hundred (300) 
Javelin FGM-148 Missiles; and fifty (50) Javelin Command Launch Units 
(CLU). Also included are Enhanced Producibility Basic Skills Trainers; 
missile simulation rounds; Security Assistance Management Directorate 
(SAMD) Technical Assistance; Tactical Aviation and Ground Munitions 
(TAGM) Project Office Technical Assistance; contractor lifecycle 
support; spares manuals; batteries/chargers; gunner training; 
ammunition officer training; OCONUS Modified Level 2 Maintenance 
Training; System Inspection and Check Out (SICO); and other related 
elements of logistical and program support. The total estimated cost is 
$83.5 million.
    This proposed sale will contribute to the foreign policy and 
national security objectives of the United States by improving the 
security of a Major Non-NATO Ally in Southeast Asia. The Javelin Weapon 
System will replace the obsolete 106mm Recoilless Rifles that the Royal 
Thai Army (RTA) acquired as part of the Military Assistance Program 
(MAP) from the Vietnam era. This proposed sale will allow the RTA to 
modernize their light anti-tank capability and maintain its current 
force posture, as well as enhance interoperability with the U.S. during 
operations and training exercises. Thailand is a strategic partner 
committed to contributing to regional security.
    The proposed sale will improve Thailand's capability to meet 
current and future threats by improving Thailand's long-term defense 
capacity to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity. Thailand 
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 prime contractors will be Raytheon/Lockheed Martin Javelin 
Joint Venture of Orlando, Florida, and Tucson, Arizona. Offsets have 
not been included. Any offset agreements will be defined in 
negotiations between the purchaser and the contractor(s).
    Implementation of this proposed sale will not require the 
assignment of U.S. Government or contractor representatives to 
Thailand.
    There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a 
result of this proposed sale.
Transmittal No. 21-53
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 Javelin Weapon System is a medium-range, man portable, 
shoulder-launched, fire and forget, anti-tank system for infantry, 
scouts, and combat engineers. It may also be mounted on a variety of 
platforms including vehicles, aircraft and watercraft. The system 
weighs 49.5 pounds and has a maximum range in excess of 2,500 meters. 
The system is highly lethal against tanks and other systems with 
conventional and reactive armors. The system possesses a secondary 
capability against bunkers.
    2. Javelin's key technical feature is the use of fire-and-forget 
technology, which allows the gunner to fire and immediately relocate or 
take cover. Additional special features are the top attack and/or 
direct fire modes, an advanced tandem warhead and imaging infrared 
seeker, target lock-on before launch, and soft launch from enclosures 
or covered fighting positions. The Javelin missile also has a minimum 
smoke motor, thus decreasing its detection on the battlefield.
    3. The Javelin Weapon System is comprised of two major tactical 
components, which are a reusable Command Launch Unit (CLU) and a round 
contained in a disposable launch tube assembly. The CLU incorporates an 
integrated day-night sight that provides a target engagement capability 
in adverse weather and countermeasure environments. The CLU may also be 
used in a stand-alone mode for battlefield surveillance and target 
detection. The CLU's thermal sight is a second generation Forward 
Looking Infrared (FLIR) sensor. To facilitate initial loading and 
subsequent updating of software, all on-board missile software is 
uploaded via the CLU after mating and prior to launch.
    4. The missile is autonomously guided to the target using an 
imaging infrared seeker and adaptive correlation tracking algorithms. 
This allows the gunner to take cover or reload and engage another 
target after firing a missile. The missile has an advanced tandem 
warhead and can be used in either the top attack or direct fire modes 
(for target undercover). An onboard flight computer guides the missile 
to the selected target.
    5. The highest level of classification of defense articles, 
components, and services included in this potential sale is SECRET.
    6. If a technologically advanced adversary were to obtain knowledge 
of the specific hardware or software elements, the information could be 
used to develop countermeasures that might reduce weapon system 
effectiveness or be used in the development of a system with similar or 
advanced capabilities.
    7. A determination has been made that Thailand can provide 
substantially the same degree of protection for the sensitive 
technology being released as the U.S. Government. This proposed sale is 
necessary in furtherance of the U.S. foreign policy and national 
security objectives outlined in the Policy Justification.
    8. All defense articles and services listed in this transmittal are 
authorized for release and export to the Government of Thailand.

[FR Doc. 2023-03107 Filed 2-13-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 5001-06-P