[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 241 (Monday, December 16, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 68429-68431]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-26980]
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Office of the Secretary
[Transmittal No. 19-47]
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 19-47 with
attached Policy Justification and Sensitivity of Technology.
Dated: December 9, 2019.
Aaron T. Siegel,
Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.
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Transmittal No. 19-47
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 Qatar
(ii) Total Estimated Value:
Major Defense Equipment*................ $17 million
Other................................... $69 million
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TOTAL................................. $86 million
(iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or
Services under Consideration for Purchase: Qatar requested a possible
sale of two (2) AN/AAQ-24(V)N Large Aircraft Infrared Countermeasures
(LAIRCM) systems to protect two (2) Boeing 747-800 Head-of-State
aircraft. Each LAIRCM system consists of three (3) Guardian Laser
Turret Assemblies (GLTA), one (1) LAIRCM System Processor Replacement
(LSPR), five (5) Missile Warning Sensors
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(MWS), one (1) Control Indicator Unit Replacement (CIUR), one (1) Smart
Card Assembly (SCA), and one (1) High Capacity Card (HCC/User Data
Memory (UDM) card.
Major Defense Equipment (MDE):
Twelve (12) Guardian Laser Turret Assemblies (GLTA) (6 installed, 6
spares)
Seven (7) LAIRCM System Processor Replacements (LSPR) (2 installed 5
spares)
Twenty-three (23) Missile Warning Sensors (MWS) (10 installed, 13
spares)
Non-MDE: Also included are LAIRCM CIURs; SCAs; HCCs; UDM cards;
initial spares; consumables; repair and return support; support
equipment; engineering design; integration; hardware integration;
flight test and certifications; selective availability anti-spoofing
modules (SAASM); publications and technical documentation; training and
training equipment; field service representatives; U.S. Government and
contractor engineering, technical, and logistics support; and other
related elements of logistics and program support.
(iv) Military Department: Air Force (QA-D-BAB)
(v) Prior Related Cases, if any: QA-D-QAA and QA-D-QAF
(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: September 24, 2019
* As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control Act.
POLICY JUSTIFICATION
Qatar--Large Aircraft Infrared Countermeasures (LAIRCM) System for
Head-of-State Aircraft
The Government of Qatar has requested to buy two AN/AAQ-24(V)N
Large Aircraft Infrared Countermeasures (LAIRCM) systems to protect two
(2) 747-800 Head-of-State aircraft. This proposed sale will include:
twelve (12) Guardian Laser Turret Assemblies (GLTA) (6 installed, 6
spares); seven (7) LAIRCM System Processor Replacements (LSPR) (2
installed 5 spares); twenty-three (23) Missile Warning Sensors (MWS)
(10 installed, 13 spares); Control Indicator Unit Replacements (CIURs);
Smart Card Assemblies (SCAs); High Capacity Cards (HCCs); User Data
Memory (UDM) cards; initial spares; consumables; repair and return
support; support equipment; engineering design; integration; hardware
integration; flight test and certifications; selective availability
anti-spoofing modules (SAASM); publications and technical
documentation; training and training equipment; field service
representatives; U.S. Government and contractor engineering, technical,
and logistics support; and other related elements of logistics and
program support. The estimated cost is $86 million.
This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national
security of the United States by helping to improve the security of a
friendly country that continues to be an important force for political
and economic progress in the Middle East. Qatar is host to the U.S.
Central Command forces and serves as a critical forward-deployed
location in the region.
The proposed sale will improve Qatar's capability to deter regional
threats. The self-protection suite will facilitate a more robust
capability into areas of increased missile threats. Qatar will have no
difficulty absorbing this equipment and capability 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 Northrop Grumman, Rolling Meadows, IL.
There are no known offset agreements proposed in connection with this
potential sale.
Implementation of this proposed sale may require the assignment of
a U.S. Government and/or contractor representatives to Qatar to provide
the field service support as requested.
There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a
result of this proposed sale.
Transmittal No. 19-47
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 AN/AAQ-24(V)N LAIRCM is a self-contained, directed energy
countermeasures system designed to protect aircraft from infrared-
guided surface-to-air missiles. The system features digital technology
and micro-miniature solid-state electronics. The system operates in all
conditions, detecting incoming missiles and jamming infrared-seeker
equipped missiles with aimed bursts of laser energy. The LAIRCM system
consists of multiple Missile Warning Sensors, Guardian Laser Turret
Assembly (GLTA), LAIRCM System Processor Replacement (LSPR), Control
Indicator Unit Replacement (CIUR), and a classified User Data Memory
(UDM) card containing the laser jam codes. The UDM card is loaded into
the LSPR prior to flight; when not in use, the UDM card is removed from
the LSRP and put in secure storage. The Missile Warning Sensors (MWS)
for AN/AAQ-24(V)N are mounted on the aircraft exterior to provide omni-
directional protection. The MWS detects the rocket plume of missiles
and sends appropriate data signals to the LSPR for processing. The LSPR
analyzes the data from each sensor and automatically deploys the
appropriate countermeasure via the GLTA. The CIUR displays the incoming
threat for the pilot to take appropriate action. The LSPR also contains
Built-in-Test (BIT) circuitry. LAIRCM hardware is CLASSIFIED only when
a classified UDM card is inserted into the system and it is powered up.
LAIRCM system software, including Operational Flight Program and jam
codes, are classified SECRET. Technical data and documentation to be
provided is UNCLASSIFIED.
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 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 Qatar 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.
4. All defense articles and services listed in this transmittal are
authorized for release and export to the Government of Qatar.
[FR Doc. 2019-26980 Filed 12-13-19; 8:45 am]
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