[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 195 (Tuesday, October 8, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 81473-81476]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-23193]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Office of the Secretary

[Transmittal No. 23-45]


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#f98998949c9598d798d780968c979ec8cdd79a908fb994989095d7949095"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="245445494148450a450a5d4b514a4315100a474d526449454d480a494d48">[email protected]</span></a>, or <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#fd998e9e9cd3939e8fd38f8e8f9e909a9089d391948e89d39e938ed0909f85bd909c9491d3909491"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="385c4b5b5916565b4a164a4b4a5b555f554c1654514b4c165b564b15555a40785559515416555154">[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-
45, Policy Justification, and Sensitivity of Technology.

    Dated: October 2, 2024.
Aaron T. Siegel,
Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.
BILLING CODE 6001-FR-P

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[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN08OC24.013

BILLING CODE 6001-FR-C
Transmittal No. 23-45
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 The Netherlands
    (ii) Total Estimated Value:

Major Defense Equipment *...............  $173 million
Other...................................  $438 million
                                         -------------------------------
  TOTAL.................................  611 million
 

    (iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or 
Services under Consideration for Purchase:
Major Defense Equipment (MDE):
    Up to four (4) MQ-9A Block 5 Aircraft
    Up to three (3) Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) MQ-9 Mobile Ground 
Control Systems (MGCS)
    Up to thirty (30) Embedded Global Positioning System/Internal 
Navigation System (EGI) Devices, Airborne, with Selective Availability 
Anti-Spoofing Module (SAASM) or M-Code
    Up to eight (8) AN/DAS-4 Multi-Spectral Targeting Systems
    Up to twenty (20) Lynx AN/APY-8 Synthetic Aperture Radars
Non-MDE:
    Also included are Reaper engines; Selex Seaspray Synthetic Aperture 
Radars; SeaVue maritime radars; M299 Hellfire Longbow missile 
launchers; AN/ARC-210 radios; Line-of-Site (LOS) Ground Data Terminals; 
Ruggedized Aircraft Maintenance Test Stations (RAMTS); AN/APX-119 and 
other

[[Page 81475]]

Identification Friend or Foe transponders; KIV-77 Cryptographic 
Appliques; KY-100M narrowband/wideband terminals; AN/PYQ-10 Simple Key 
Loaders; Satellite Communications (SATCOM) Earth Terminal Subsystems 
(SETSS); spare parts, consumables, accessories, and repair and return 
support; secure communication equipment and cryptographic devices; 
major/minor modifications, maintenance, and maintenance support; 
munitions support and support equipment; unclassified software delivery 
and support; transportation support; unclassified publications and 
technical documentation; studies and surveys; U.S. Government and 
contractor engineering, technical, and logistics support services; and 
other related elements of logistical and program support.

    (iv) Military Department: Air Force (NE-D-SAA)
    (v) Prior Related Cases, if any: NE-D-SMQ
    (vi) Sales Commission, Fee, etc., Paid, Offered, or Agreed to be 
Paid: None known at this time
    (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: June 16, 2023
    * As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control Act.

POLICY JUSTIFICATION

The Netherlands--MQ-9A Block 5 Aircraft

    The Government of the Netherlands has requested to buy up to four 
(4) MQ-9A Block 5 aircraft; up to three (3) Unmanned Aircraft Systems 
(UAS) MQ-9 Mobile Ground Control Systems (MGCS); up to thirty (30) 
Embedded Global Positioning Systems/Internal Navigation Systems (EGI) 
devices, Airborne, with Selective Availability Anti-Spoofing Module 
(SAASM) or M-Code; up to eight (8) AN/DAS-4 Multi-Spectral Targeting 
Systems; and up to twenty (20) Lynx AN/APY-8 Synthetic Aperture Radars. 
Also included are Reaper Engines; Selex Seaspray Synthetic Aperture 
Radars; SeaVue Maritime Radars; M299 Hellfire Longbow missile 
launchers; AN/ARC-210 radios; Line-of-Site (LOS) Ground Data Terminals; 
Ruggedized Aircraft Maintenance Test Stations (RAMTS); AN/APX-119 and 
other Identification Friend or Foe transponders; KIV-77 Cryptographic 
Appliques; KY-100M narrowband/wideband terminals; AN/PYQ-10 Simple Key 
Loaders; Satellite Communications (SATCOM) Earth Terminal Subsystems 
(SETSS); spare parts, consumables, accessories, and repair and return 
support; secure communication equipment and cryptographic devices; 
major/minor modifications, maintenance, and maintenance support; 
munitions support and support equipment; unclassified software delivery 
and support; transportation support; unclassified publications and 
technical documentation; studies and surveys; U.S. Government and 
contractor engineering, technical, and logistics support services; and 
other related elements of logistical and program support. The estimated 
total cost is $611 million.
    This proposed sale will support the foreign policy goals and 
national security objectives of the United States by improving the 
security of a NATO Ally that is a force for political stability and 
economic progress in Europe.
    The proposed sale will improve the Netherlands' capability to meet 
current and future threats. The MQ-9A aircraft will support 
Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition, and Reconnaissance 
(ISTAR) missions as well as Air Attack and Counter Maritime Operation 
tasks. The Netherlands already has MQ-9A aircraft in its inventory and 
will have no difficulty absorbing these articles and services 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 will be General Atomics-Aeronautical 
Systems, Poway, CA. There are no known offset agreements proposed in 
connection with this potential sale.
    Implementation of this proposed sale will not require the 
assignment of additional contractor or government representatives.
    There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a 
result of this proposed sale.
Transmittal No. 23-45
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 MQ-9A Block 5 Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) is a Medium 
Altitude, long-endurance (MALE) remotely piloted aircraft that can be 
used for surveillance, military reconnaissance, and targeting missions. 
Real-time missions are flown under the control of a pilot in a Ground 
Control Station (GCS). A datalink is maintained that uplinks control 
commands and downlinks video with telemetry data. Line-of-Sight (LOS) 
communication is enabled through C-Band datalink and Beyond-Line-of-
Sight (BLOS) communication is enabled through Ku-Band Satellite 
Communication (SATCOM). Control of the aircraft and control of the 
payload are managed through direct manual inputs by the crew or by 
preprogramming the mission. Preprogrammed missions are planned and 
uploaded by the pilots via the GCS and are executed through the control 
of an onboard suite of redundant computers and sensors. Payload imagery 
and data are downlinked to the GCS. The pilot may initiate 
preprogrammed missions once the aircraft is airborne and land the 
aircraft when the mission is completed. Pilots can change preprogrammed 
mission parameters as often as required. When operated BLOS, aircraft 
control is given to other strategically placed Ground Control 
Stations--permitting remote split operations (RSO). The MQ-9A Block 5 
is designed to carry 850 pounds of internal payload with maximum fuel 
and can carry multiple mission payloads aloft. The MQ-9A Block 5 will 
be configured for the following payloads: Electro-Optical/Infrared 
(E.O./IR), Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), Electronic Support Measures 
(ESM), Signals Intelligence (SIGINT), laser designators, and various 
weapons packages.
    a. The GCS can be either fixed or mobile. Both versions incorporate 
workstations that allow operators to control and monitor the aircraft, 
as well as record and exploit downlinked payload data.
    b. The Embedded Global Positioning System/Inertial Navigation 
System (GPS/INS) (EGI) with Selective Availability Anti-Spoofing Module 
(SAASM)--or M-Code receiver when available--and Precise Positioning 
Service (PPS) is a self-contained navigation system that provides the 
following information: acceleration, velocity, position, attitude, 
platform azimuth, magnetic and true heading, altitude, body angular 
rates, time tags, and coordinated universal time (UTC) synchronized 
time. SAASM or M-Code enables the GPS receiver to access the encrypted 
P (Y or M) signal, providing protection against active spoofing 
attacks.
    c. LOS Ground Data terminals and Ku-Band SATCOM GA-ASI 
Transportable Earth Stations (GATES) provide command, control, and data 
acquisition.

[[Page 81476]]

    2. The Raytheon Multi-Spectral Targeting System-D (MTS-D) AN/DAS-4 
integrates electro-optical (EO), infrared (IR), laser designation and 
laser illumination capabilities to provide detection, ranging, and 
tracking capabilities specifically for high-altitude applications. This 
advanced EO and IR system provides long-range surveillance, high 
altitude target acquisition, tracking, range finding, and laser 
designation for the Hellfire missile and for all tri-service and NATO 
laser-guided munitions. The MTS-D provides greater target location 
accuracy than the MTS-B.
    3. The AN/APY-8 Lynx Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) and Ground 
Moving Target Indicator (GMTI) system provides all-weather 
surveillance, tracking, and targeting for military and commercial 
customers from manned and unmanned vehicles.
    4. The Selex Seaspray is an Active Electronically Scanned Array 
(AESA) surveillance radar suitable for a range of capabilities from 
long-range search to small target detection.
    5. The SeaVue Maritime Multi-Role Patrol Radar is a synthetic 
aperture X-band radar that provides small-target maritime detection in 
high seas, maritime search (including submarine periscopes and semi-
submersibles), radar imaging of ocean targets, and weather detection 
and avoidance.
    6. The M299 launcher provides mechanical and electrical interface 
between the Hellfire missile and aircraft.
    7. ARC-210 radios are voice communications radio systems equipped 
with HAVE QUICK II and Second Generation Antijam Tactical UHF Radio for 
NATO (SATURN), which employ cryptographic technology. Other waveforms 
may be included as needed.
    8. The Ruggedized Aircraft Maintenance Test Station (RAMTS) is a 
mobile test station used to perform diagnostic and operational checks 
on the MQ-9.
    9. The AN/APX-119 is an Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) 
transponder that provides military aircraft with a secure combat 
identification capability to help reduce fratricide and enhance 
battlespace awareness, while providing safe access to civilian 
airspace.
    10. The KIV-77 is a cryptographic applique for IFF. It can be 
loaded with Mode 5 classified elements.
    11. The KY-100M is a lightweight terminal for secure voice and data 
communications. The KY-100M provides wideband/narrowband half-duplex 
communication. Operating in tactical ground, marine, and airborne 
applications, the KY-100M enables secure communication with a broad 
range of radio and satellite equipment.
    12. The AN/PYQ-10 Simple Key Loader is a handheld device used for 
securely receiving, storing, and transferring data between compatible 
cryptographic and communications equipment.
    13. The highest level of classification of defense articles, 
components, and services included in this potential sale is SECRET.
    14. 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.
    15. A determination has been made that the Netherlands 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.
    16. All defense articles and services listed in this transmittal 
have been authorized for release and export to the Netherlands.

[FR Doc. 2024-23193 Filed 10-7-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6001-FR-P


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