Arms Sales Notification, 68408-68410 [2024-19128]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
• Office of the Secretary

[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 165 (Monday, August 26, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 68408-68410]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-19128]


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

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Office of the Secretary

[Transmittal No. 22-70]


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 with attached Transmittal 22-
70, Policy Justification, and Sensitivity of Technology.

    Dated: August 16, 2024.
Aaron T. Siegel,
Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.
BILLING CODE 6001-FR-P

[[Page 68409]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN26AU24.004

BILLING CODE 6001-FR-C
Transmittal No. 22-70
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: Taipei Economic and Cultural 
Representative Office in the United States (TECRO)
    (ii) Total Estimated Value:

Major Defense Equipment *...............  $ 0 million
Other...................................  $180 million
                                         -------------------------------
  TOTAL.................................  $180 million
 

    Funding Source: National Funds
    (iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or 
Services under Consideration for Purchase:

Major Defense Equipment (MDE):
    None
Non-MDE:
    Includes Volcano (vehicle-launched) anti-tank munition-laying 
systems; M977A4 HEMTT 10-Ton cargo trucks; M87A1 Anti-Tank (AT) 
munitions; M88 canister training munitions (practice dummy ammunition 
rounds); M89 training munitions (test ammunition rounds); organic U.S. 
Army Depot

[[Page 68410]]

build of Volcano system permanently mounted on M977A4 HEMTT truck; 
logistics support packages to include spare parts, spare secondary 
assemblies, tool kits and test equipment; technical manuals; organic 
depot production, integration and testing; Operator and Maintenance 
Training; logistics and fielding support; USG technical assistance 
CONUS and OCONUS to include engineering services, program management, 
site surveys, facility, logistics and maintenance evaluations; quality 
assurance and de-processing team; field service representative(s); 
Repair and Return services; any transportation charges to execute the 
program; and related elements of logistical and program support.

    (iv) Military Department: Army (TW-B-ZDV)
    (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: December 28, 2022

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

POLICY JUSTIFICATION

Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United 
States--Volcano System

    The Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the 
United States (TECRO) has requested to buy Volcano (vehicle-launched) 
anti-tank munition-laying systems; M977A4 HEMTT 10-Ton cargo trucks; 
M87A1 Anti-Tank (AT) munitions; M88 canister training munitions 
(practice dummy ammunition rounds); M89 training munitions (test 
ammunition rounds); organic U.S. Army Depot build of Volcano system 
permanently mounted on M977A4 HEMTT truck; logistics support packages 
to include spare parts, spare secondary assemblies, tool kits and test 
equipment; technical manuals; organic depot production, integration and 
testing; Operator and Maintenance Training; logistics and fielding 
support; USG technical assistance CONUS and OCONUS to include 
engineering services, program management, site surveys, facility, 
logistics and maintenance evaluations; quality assurance and de-
processing team; field service representative(s); Repair and Return 
services; any transportation charges to execute the program; and 
related elements of logistical and program support. The estimated total 
cost is $180 million.
    This proposed sale is consistent with U.S. law and policy as 
expressed in Public Law 96-8.
    This proposed sale serves U.S. national, economic, and security 
interests by supporting the recipient's continuing efforts to modernize 
its armed forces and to maintain a credible defensive capability. The 
proposed sale will help improve the security of the recipient and 
assist in maintaining political stability, military balance, and 
economic progress in the region.
    The proposed sale will improve the recipient's capability to meet 
current and future threats by providing a credible force capable of 
deterring adversaries and participating in regional operations. The 
recipient 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 contractor(s) will be Northrup Grumman, West Falls 
Church, VA for production of munition canister mines; and Oshkosh 
Corporation, Oshkosh, WI for production of the M977A4 HEMTT vehicles. 
There are no known offset agreements proposed in connection with this 
potential sale.
    Implementation of this proposed sale will require assignment of one 
(1) technical representative in country for an estimated two (2) years 
of support; and U.S. Government representatives and contractor 
personnel to travel OCONUS for a duration of up to five years to 
support equipment fielding/training and program management.
    There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a 
result of this proposed sale.
Transmittal No. 22-70
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 M139 Volcano System: a mass scatterable mine delivery system 
that delivers mines by helicopter or ground vehicle. It enables 
tactical commanders to emplace antitank/antipersonnel (AT/AP) or pure 
AT minefields with a minimum of personnel. A soldier-selectable, self-
destruct mechanism destroys the mine at the end of its active 
lifecycle--4 hours to 15 days--depending on the time selected. Using a 
ground vehicle, a 1,000-meter minefield can be laid in 4 to 12 minutes 
based on terrain and vehicle speed. A helicopter can complete the 
mission in 20 seconds. Advantages of this system include faster 
response, increased lethality, greater efficiency, and enhanced safety.
    a. The Volcano ground system is capable of holding up to 160 
canisters and can be launched from both sides of the vehicle. Each 
canister contains six (6) mines.
    b. With the Presidential Landmine Policy in place, AP mines cannot 
be exported. An AT only canister (M87A1) was developed to meet the 
policy decision. Therefore, the mine ratio went from five (5) AT mines/
one (1) AP mine TO: six (6) AT mines/0 AP mines.
    c. Volcano has no sensitive technological information or restricted 
information contained in the equipment, major components, subsystems, 
software, technical data (performance, maintenance, R&M, etc.) 
documentation, training devices and services to be conveyed with the 
proposed sale. There are no classified Volcano components (major 
components or subsystems), software, technical data, documentation, 
training devices or services to be conveyed with the proposed sale.
    2. The highest level of classification of defense articles, 
components, and services included in this potential sale is 
UNCLASSIFIED.
    3. 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.
    4. A determination has been made that the recipient 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 outlines in the Policy Justification.
    5. All defense articles and services listed in this transmittal 
have been authorized for release and export to the recipient.

[FR Doc. 2024-19128 Filed 8-23-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6001-FR-C