[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 45 (Wednesday, March 7, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13564-13566]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-5446]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Office of the Secretary

[Transmittal Nos. 11-53]


36(b)(1) Arms Sales Notification

AGENCY: Department of Defense, Defense Security Cooperation Agency.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Defense is publishing the unclassified text 
of a section 36(b)(1) arms sales notification. This is published to 
fulfill the requirements of section 155 of Public Law 104-164 dated 
July 21, 1996.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. B. English, DSCA/DBO/CFM, (703) 
601-3740.
    The following is a copy of a letter to the Speaker of the House of 
Representatives, Transmittals 11-53 with attached transmittal, policy 
justification, and Sensitivity of Technology.

    Dated: March 1, 2012.
Aaron Siegel,
Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.
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[[Page 13565]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN07MR12.021

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Transmittal No. 11-53

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: Kuwait
    (ii) Total Estimated Value:

 
 
 
Major Defense Equipment *................  $81 million
Other....................................  $24 million
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    TOTAL................................  $105 million
 

    (iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or 
Services under Consideration for Purchase: 80 AIM-9X-2 SIDEWINDER Block 
II All-Up-Round Missiles, 26 CATM-9X-2 Captive Air Training Missiles, 2 
CATM-9X-2 Block II Missile Guidance Units, 8 AIM-9X-2 Block II Tactical 
Guidance Units, 2 Dummy Air Training Missiles, containers, missile 
support and test equipment, provisioning, spare and repair parts, 
personnel training and training equipment, publications and technical 
data, U.S. Government and contractor technical assistance and other 
related logistics support.
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    \*\ as defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control Act.
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    (iv) Military Department: Navy (ABI)
    (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 Annex attached

[[Page 13566]]

    (viii) Date Report Delivered to Congress: 24 February 2012

POLICY JUSTIFICATION

Kuwait--AIM-9X-2 SIDEWINDER Missiles

    The Government of Kuwait has requested a possible sale of 80 AIM-
9X-2 SIDEWINDER Block II All-Up-Round Missiles, 26 CATM-9X-2 Captive 
Air Training Missiles, 2 CATM-9X-2 Block II Missile Guidance Units, 8 
AIM-9X-2 Block II Tactical Guidance Units, 2 Dummy Air Training 
Missiles, containers, missile support and test equipment, provisioning, 
spare and repair parts, personnel training and training equipment, 
publications and technical data, U.S. Government and contractor 
technical assistance and other related logistics support. The estimated 
cost is $105 million.
    This proposed sale will contribute to the foreign policy and 
national security of the United States by helping to improve the 
security of a friendly country that has been, and continues to be, an 
important force for political stability and economic progress in the 
Middle East.
    The Kuwait Air Force is modernizing its fighter aircraft to better 
support its own air defense needs. The proposed sale of AIM-9X-2 
missiles will enhance Kuwait's interoperability with the U.S. and among 
other Central Command nations, making it a more valuable partner in an 
increasingly important area of the world.
    The proposed sale of this weapon system will not alter the basic 
military balance in the region.
    The prime contractor will be Raytheon Missile Systems Company in 
Tucson, Arizona. There are no known offset agreements in connection 
with this potential sale.
    Implementation of this proposed sale will require travel of U.S. 
Government or contractor representatives to Kuwait on a temporary basis 
for program technical support and management oversight.
    There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a 
result of this proposed sale.

Transmittal No. 11-53

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 AIM-9X-2 SIDEWINDER Block II Missile represents a 
substantial increase in missile acquisition and kinematics performance 
over the AIM-9M and replaces the AIM-9X-1 Block I missile 
configuration. The missile includes a high off bore-sight seeker, 
enhanced countermeasure rejection capability, low drag/high angle of 
attack airframe and the ability to integrate the Helmet Mounted Cueing 
System. The software algorithms are the most sensitive portion of the 
AIM-9X-2 missile. The software continues to be modified via a pre-
planned product improvement (P\3\I) program in order to improve its 
counter-countermeasures capabilities. No software source code or 
algorithms will be released.
    2. The AIM-9X-2 will result in the transfer of sensitive technology 
and information. The equipment, hardware, and documentation are 
classified Confidential. The software and operational performance are 
classified Secret. The seeker/guidance control section and the target 
detector are Confidential and contain sensitive state-of-the-art 
technology. Manuals and technical documentation that are necessary or 
support operational use and organizational management are classified up 
to Secret. Performance and operating logic of the counter-
countermeasures circuits are classified Secret. The hardware, software, 
and data identified are classified to protect vulnerabilities, design 
and performance parameters and similar critical information.
    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 that might reduce weapon system 
effectiveness or be used in the development of a system with similar or 
advanced capabilities.
[FR Doc. 2012-5446 Filed 3-6-12; 8:45 am]
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