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 Department of Defense Office of the Secretary [Transmittal No. 23-29]
 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: Pamela Young at (703) 953-6092, 
                        *pamela.a.young14.civ@mail.mil,*
                         or 
                        *dsca.ncr.rsrcmgmt.list.cns-mbx@mail.mil.*


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 23-29, Policy Justification, and Sensitivity of Technology. Dated: September 24, 2024. Aaron T. Siegel, Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.
 
 
  Transmittal No. 23-29 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. (ii) (i) 
                    *Prospective Purchaser:*
                     Government of Australia (ii) 
                    *Total Estimated Value:* Major Defense Equipment *
$  0 millionOther
$207 millionTOTAL
$207 million
 (iii) 
                    *Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or Services under Consideration for Purchase:* *Major Defense Equipment (MDE):* None *Non-MDE:* Included are Surveillance Towed Array Sensor System Expeditionary (SURTASS-E) mission systems for Vessels of Opportunity (VOO); a shore processing mission system, a spare SURTASS passive acoustic array; containers; communications parts and support equipment (Classified and Unclassified); software (Classified and Unclassified); publications (Classified and Unclassified); training; U.S. Government and contractor engineering support; and other related elements of logistics and program support. (iv) 
                    *Military Department:*
                     Navy (AT-P-LGL)
                    ( print page 79271) (v) 
                    *Prior Related Cases, if any:*
                     AT-P-LGN, AT-P-LGL (P&A) (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:*
                     May 4, 2023 *As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control Act. POLICY JUSTIFICATION Australia—Surveillance Towed Array Sensor System Expeditionary (SURTASS-E) Mission Systems The Government of Australia has requested to buy Surveillance Towed Array Sensor System Expeditionary (SURTASS-E) mission systems for Vessels of Opportunity (VOO); a shore processing mission system, a spare SURTASS passive acoustic array; containers; communications parts and support equipment (Classified and Unclassified); software (Classified and Unclassified); publications (Classified and Unclassified); training; U.S. Government and contractor engineering support; and other related elements of logistics and program support. The estimated total cost is $207 million. This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States. Australia is one of our most important allies in the Western Pacific. The strategic location of this political and economic power contributes significantly to ensuring peace and economic stability in the region. It is vital to the U.S. national interest to assist our ally in developing and maintaining a strong and ready self-defense capability. The proposed sale will improve Australia's capability to meet current and future maritime threats by providing tactical platforms with the detection and cueing of enemy submarines. The ability to provide acoustic Wide Area Surveillance and generate Indications and Warnings to Australian Commands will significantly improve shared maritime security. Australia 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 contractors will be Lockheed Martin-Syracuse, Syracuse, NY; and Lockheed Martin-Manassas, Manassas, VA. There are no known offset agreements proposed in connection with this potential sale. Implementation of this proposed sale will require U.S. Government personnel and U.S. Contractor representatives to visit the Commonwealth of Australia on a temporary basis in conjunction with program technical oversight and support requirements, including program and technical reviews. There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a result of this proposed sale. Transmittal No. 23-29 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 Surveillance Towed Array Sensor System Expeditionary (SURTASS-E) mission system is a containerized variant of the passive SURTASS system providing long range detection and cueing for tactical weapons platforms against both diesel and nuclear-powered submarines. SURTASS-E allows the fleet to detect, classify, localize, track, and report emergent threats, thereby improving overall maritime security. 2. The highest level of classification of defense articles, components, and services included in this potential sale 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 that might reduce mission system effectiveness or be used in the development of a system with similar or advanced capabilities. 4. A determination has been made that Australia 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 Australia.


BILLING CODE 6001-FR-P [FR Doc. 2024-22238 Filed 9-26-24; 8:45 am]