[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 188 (Friday, September 27, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 79269-79271]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-22238]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Office of the Secretary

[Transmittal No. 23-29]


Arms Sales Notification

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

ACTION: Arms sales notice.

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

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Pamela Young at (703) 953-6092, 
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#1d6d7c7078717c337c33647268737a2c29337e746b5d707c747133707471"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="acdccdc1c9c0cd82cd82d5c3d9c2cb9d9882cfc5daecc1cdc5c082c1c5c0">[email protected]</span></a>, or <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#70140313115e1e13025e020302131d171d045e1c1903045e131e035d1d1208301d11191c5e1d191c"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="1b7f68787a357578693569686978767c766f357772686f35787568367679635b767a727735767277">[email protected]</span></a>.

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.
BILLING CODE 6001-FR-P

[[Page 79270]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN27SE24.003

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 million
Other...................................  $207 million
                                         -------------------------------
  TOTAL.................................  $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)

[[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.

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


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