[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 209 (Tuesday, October 29, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 85946-85949]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-25117]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Office of the Secretary

[Transmittal No. 23-66]


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#9feffef2faf3feb1feb1e6f0eaf1f8aeabb1fcf6e9dff2fef6f3b1f2f6f3"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="1f6f7e727a737e317e3166706a71782e2b317c76695f727e767331727673">[email protected]</span></a>, or <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#a7c3d4c4c689c9c4d589d5d4d5c4cac0cad389cbced4d389c4c9d48acac5dfe7cac6cecb89cacecb"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="74100717155a1a17065a06070617191319005a181d07005a171a075919160c3419151d185a191d18">[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-
66, Policy Justification, and Sensitivity of Technology.

    Dated: October 24, 2024.
Aaron T. Siegel,
Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.
BILLING CODE 6001-FR-P

[[Page 85947]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN29OC24.006

BILLING CODE 6001-FR-C
Transmittal No. 23-66
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 Republic of Bulgaria
    (ii) Total Estimated Value:

Major Defense Equipment *................  $1.0 billion
Other....................................  $.5 billion
                                          ------------------------------
  TOTAL..................................  $1.5 billion
 

    Funding Source: National Funds
    (iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or 
Services under Consideration for Purchase: The Government of the 
Republic of Bulgaria has requested to buy one hundred eighty-three 
(183) Stryker Family of Vehicles, including:
    Major Defense Equipment (MDE):
Ninety (90) XM1296 Infantry Carrier Vehicles--Dragoon (ICVD)
Seventeen (17) M1126 Infantry Carrier Vehicles (ICV)
Nine (9) M1132 Engineer Squad Vehicles (ESV)
Thirty-three (33) M1130 Command Vehicles (CV)
Twenty-four (24) M1133 Medical Evacuation Vehicles (MEV)
Ten (10) M1135 Nuclear, Biological, Chemical Reconnaissance Vehicles 
(NBCRV)
Five (5) Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Truck (HEMTT) Light Equipment 
Transport (LET)
Five (5) Modular Catastrophic Recovery System (MCRS)
Two (2) M1120A4 HEMTT Load Handling System
Five (5) M984A4 Wrecker HEMTT

[[Page 85948]]

One hundred seven (107) M240 Coaxial 7.62mm Machine Guns
    Non-MDE:
    The following are also included: support service equipment; M-153A4 
Common Remote Operated Weapons Stations (CROWS); Forward Repair Systems 
(FRS); M2A1 .50 caliber machine guns; M6 smoke grenade launchers and 
associated spares; Harris radios; AN/VAS-5 Driver's Vision Enhancer 
(DVE); DVE-Wide; communications equipment; RS6 (LW30) Remote Weapon 
Systems; TACFLIR 280 HDEP systems; Ranger R20SS Radar; ROVER6Si 
transceivers; spare parts; Basic Issue Items (BII), Components of End 
Items (COEI), and Additional Authorized List (AAL); Special Tools and 
Test Equipment (STTE); technical manuals; OCONUS Deprocessing Service; 
OCONUS contractor provided training and Field Service Representatives 
(FSR); component assembly in-country; and other related elements of 
logistics and program support.
    (iv) Military Department: Army (BU-B-UCP, BU-B-UCS)
    (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 Attached Annex
    (viii) Date Report Delivered to Congress: September 1, 2023
    * As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control Act.

POLICY JUSTIFICATION

Bulgaria--Stryker Vehicles

    The Government of the Republic of Bulgaria has requested to buy one 
hundred eighty-three (183) Stryker Family of Vehicles. The proposed 
sale would consist of: ninety (90) XM1296 Infantry Carrier Vehicles--
Dragoon (ICVD); seventeen (17) M1126 Infantry Carrier Vehicles (ICV); 
nine (9) M1132 Engineer Squad Vehicles (ESV); thirty-three (33) M1130 
Command Vehicles (CV); twenty-four (24) M1133 Medical Evacuation 
Vehicles (MEV); ten (10) M1135 Nuclear, Biological, Chemical 
Reconnaissance Vehicles (NBCRV); five (5) Heavy Expanded Mobility 
Tactical Truck (HEMTT) Light Equipment Transports (LET); five (5) 
Modular Catastrophic Recovery Systems (MCRS); two (2) M1120A4 HEMTT 
Load Handling Systems; five (5) M984A4 Wrecker HEMTTs; and one hundred 
seven (107) M240 Coaxial 7.62mm machine guns. Also included is support 
service equipment; M-153A4 Common Remote Operated Weapons Stations 
(CROWS); Forward Repair Systems (FRS); M2A1 .50 caliber machine guns; 
M6 smoke grenade launchers and associated spares; Harris radios; AN/
VAS-5 Driver's Vision Enhancer (DVE); DVE-Wide; communications 
equipment; RS6 (LW30) Remote Weapon Systems; TACFLIR 280 HDEP systems; 
Ranger R20SS Radar; ROVER6Si transceivers; spare parts; Basic Issue 
Items (BII), Components of End Items (COEI), and Additional Authorized 
List (AAL); Special Tools and Test Equipment (STTE); technical manuals; 
OCONUS Deprocessing Service; OCONUS contractor provided training and 
Field Service Representatives (FSR); component assembly in-country; and 
other related elements of logistics and program support. The estimated 
total cost is $1.5 billion.
    This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national 
security objectives of the United States by helping to improve the 
security of a North Atlantic Treaty Organization ally that is a force 
for political stability and economic progress in Europe.
    The proposed sale will improve Bulgaria's rapid infantry deployment 
and force projection capability. Bulgaria will use this enhanced 
capability to strengthen its homeland defense and deter regional 
threats. Bulgaria will have no difficulty absorbing this equipment and 
services into its armed forces.
    The principal contractor will be General Dynamics Land Systems, 
Anniston, AL. There are no known offset agreements proposed in 
connection with this potential sale.
    Implementation of this proposed sale will require twenty (20) 
Stryker contractor representatives to travel to Bulgaria for twenty-
four (24) months to conduct contractor logistics support, training, and 
component assembly support.
    There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a 
result of this proposed sale.
Transmittal No. 23-66
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 Stryker Family of Vehicles (FoV) are all derived from the 
Flat Bottom Infantry Carrier Vehicle (ICV). The ICV supplies the common 
suspension (except for the ICVD), drive line, major C4 components, and 
hull to the FoV. The FoV is powered by a 350 horsepower C7 Caterpillar 
diesel engine and runs on eight wheels that feature run flat capability 
and a central tire inflation system (CTIS). It contains a vehicle 
height management system to aid in transportability. The FoV is 
supported by a communications suite that integrates the Single Channel 
Ground and Airborne Radio System (SINCGARS) radio family and Global 
Positioning System (GPS) and their commercially exportable equivalents, 
and has a Mission Equipment Package that add to the ICV common 
capabilities. The Stryker is deployable by C-130 aircraft and is combat 
capable upon arrival; it is also capable of self-deployment by highway 
and can conduct self-recovery. It has a low noise level that reduces 
crew fatigue and enhances survivability. It moves about the battlefield 
quickly and is optimized for close, complex, or urban terrain. The 
Stryker program leverages non-developmental items with common 
subsystems and components to quickly acquire and field these systems.
    2. The XM914E1 is a single feed chain gun that fires linked, 
percussion-primed 30mm x 113mm ammunition. The gun is powered by a 1 
horsepower 28V (volt) direct current (DC) motor and incorporates hang 
fire safety protection. Actual operation of the gun is accomplished via 
the platform's fire control system in conjunction with and through the 
dedicated Gun Control Unit (GCU). The GCU provides all electrical power 
to the gun, including operational and sensor level 28V DC power. The 
weapon has a cyclic firing rate of 200 <plus-minus> 25 shots per 
minute. Actual firing rate varies within the specification range due to 
system level characteristics, such as inputted voltage and ammunition 
feed system loads.
    3. The RS6 Remote Weapon System (RWS) is an externally mounted 
weapon mounting and control system that allows the gunner to remain 
inside the vehicle protected by armor while firing a variety of crew-
served weapons, including the XM914E1 chain gun. The RS6 allows for 
remote day and night sighting and ballistic control capability, 
providing first-burst engagement of targets at maximum effective weapon 
range while on the move.
    4. The AN/VAS-5 Driver's Vision Enhancer (DVE) is compact thermal 
camera providing armored vehicle drivers with day or nighttime visual 
awareness in clear or reduced vision (fog, smoke, dust, etc.) 
situations. The system provides the driver a 50-degree viewing angle 
using a high-resolution infrared sensor and image stabilization to 
reduce the effect of shock and vibration. The viewer and monitor are 
ruggedized for operation in tactical environments.

[[Page 85949]]

    5. The Driver's Vision Enhancer (DVE-Wide) mounted on the XM1296 
ICVD, is a compact thermal camera providing armored vehicle drivers 
with day or nighttime visual awareness in clear or reduced vision (fog, 
smoke, dust, etc.) situations. The system provides the driver a 180-
degree viewing angle using a high-resolution infrared sensor and image 
stabilization to reduce the effect of shock and vibration. The viewer 
and monitor are ruggedized for operation in tactical environments.
    1. The Common Remote Operated Weapon Station (CROWS) is an 
externally-mounted weapon mounting and control system that allows the 
gunner to remain inside the vehicle protected by armor while firing a 
variety of crew-served weapons. The CROWS allows for remote day and 
night sighting and ballistic control capability, providing first-burst 
engagement of targets at maximum effective weapon range while on the 
move.
    2. hC2 BMS solution--the hC2 Software Suite is a complete COMMAND 
and Control (C2) solution that offers clarity, simplicity, and high 
performance to address real world C2 challenges at all echelon levels. 
The hC2 Suite connects the headquarters all the way down the echelon to 
the tactical edge. At the core of the hC2 Suite is hC2 Tactical 
Communications, which enables full integration and interoperability of 
the three hC2 components: COMMAND, PATROL and DISMOUNT. hC2 Tactical 
Communications provides networked COMMAND and control and shared 
situational awareness, allowing for information exchange across 
echelons. hC2 Tactical Communications is operable on limited bandwidth, 
high latency tactical radio data communications frequencies. hC2 also 
supports IP and non-IP radios and can handle different types of radios, 
even within the same vehicle.
    3. The highest level of classification of defense articles, 
components, and services included in this potential sale is SECRET.
    4. 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.
    5. A determination has been made that Bulgaria can provide 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.
    6. All defense articles and services listed in this transmittal 
have been authorized for release and export to the Republic of 
Bulgaria.

[FR Doc. 2024-25117 Filed 10-28-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6001-FR-P


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