[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 73 (Wednesday, April 16, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18588-18589]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-9740]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Office of the Secretary
[Transmittal No. 97-12]


Section 36(b)(1) Arms Sale Notification

AGENCY: Department of Defense, Defense Security Assistance 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 P.L. 104-164 dated 21 July 
1996.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Ms. J. Hurd, DSAA/COMPT/FPD, (703) 604-6575.
    The following is a copy of a letter to the Speaker of the House of 
Representatives, Transmittal 97-12, with attached transmittal, policy 
justification, and sensitivity of technology pages.

    Dated: April 10, 1997.
L.M. Bynum,
Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.

In reply refer to: I-04140/97.

April 8, 1997.
Honorable Newt Gingrich,
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Washington, D.C. 20515-
6501.

    Dear Mr. Speaker: Pursuant to the reporting requirements of 
Section 36(b)(1) of the Arms Export Control Act, we are forwarding 
herewith Transmittal No. 97-12, concerning the Department of the 
Army's proposed Letter(s) of Offer and Acceptance (LOA) to Israel 
for defense articles and services estimated to cost $200 million. 
Soon after this letter is delivered to your office, we plan to 
notify the news media.

        Sincerely,
Thomas G. Rhame,
Lieutenant General, USA, Director.

Attachments

Same ltr to:
    House Committee on International Relations
    Senate Committee on Appropriations
    Senate Committee on Foreign Relations
    House Committee on National Security
    Senate Committee on Armed Services
    House Committee on Appropriations

Transmittal No. 97-12

Notice of Proposed Issuance of Letter of Offer Pursuant to Section 
36(b)(1) of the Arms Export Control Act

    (i) Prospective Purchaser: Israel.
    (ii) Total Estimated Value:

[[Page 18589]]



Major Defense Equipment*................  $175 million.                 
Other...................................  25 million.                   
                                         -------------------------------
    Total...............................  200 million.                  
                                                                        
* As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control Act.           

    (iii) Description of Articles or Services Offered: Fifteen UH-
60L BLACKHAWK helicopters, 30 GE turbine engines, four spare GE 
turbine engines with containers, external rescue hoist provisions, 
rotor brake system, spare and repair parts, tools and support 
equipment, publications and technical data, personnel training and 
training equipment, U.S. Government Quality Assurance Team (QAT), 
contractor engineering and technical support services and other 
related elements of logistics support.
    (iv) Military Department: Army (YPR).
    (v) Sales Commission, Fee, etc., Paid, Offered, or Agreed to be 
Paid: None.
    (vi) Sensitivity of Technology Contained in the Defense Article 
or Defense Services Proposed to be Sold: See Annex attached.
    (vii) Date Report Delivered to Congress: April 8, 1997.

Policy Justification

Israel--UH-60L BLACKHAWK Helicopters

    The Government of Israel has requested the purchase of 15 UH-60L 
BLACKHAWK helicopters, 30 GE turbine engines, four spare GE turbine 
engines with containers, external rescue hoist provisions, rotor 
brake system, spare and repair parts, tools and support equipment, 
publications and technical data, personnel training and training 
equipment, U.S. Government Quality Assurance Team (QAT), contractor 
engineering and technical support services and other related 
elements of logistics support. The estimated cost is $200 million.
    This sale will contribute to the foreign policy and national 
security of the United States by helping to improve the security of 
a friendly country which has been and continues to be an important 
force for political stability and economic progress in the Middle 
East.
    Israel, which already has Blackhawk helicopters in its 
inventory, will have no difficulty absorbing the additional 
helicopters.
    The sale of this equipment and support will not affect the basic 
military balance in the region.
    The prime contractors participating in the program will be 
United Technologies, Sikorsky Aircraft, Stratford, Connecticut and 
General Electric, Lynn, Massachusetts. There are no offset 
agreements proposed to be entered into in connection with this 
potential sale.
    A United States Government Quality Assurance Team will be 
required in-country for a minimum of one week during the delivery 
and initial operation of the helicopters. A U.S. contractor field 
service representative will also be required in-country for 
approximately six months to support the new helicopters.
    There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a 
result of this sale.

Annex Item No. vi

    (vi) Sensitivity of Technology:
    1. The UH-60L BLACKHAWK helicopter is Unclassified. The highest 
level of classified information required to be released for 
training, operation and maintenance of the BLACKHAWK is 
Confidential. The highest level which could be revealed through 
reverse engineering or testing of the end item is Confidential. This 
information includes Confidential reports and test data, as well as 
performance and capability data, classified Confidential/Secret.
    2. If a technologically advanced adversary were to obtain 
knowledge of the specific hardware in this sale, the information 
could be used to develop countermeasures which might reduce weapon 
system effectiveness or be used in the development of a system with 
similar or advanced capabilities.
    3. A determination has been made that the recipient country 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.

[FR Doc. 97-9740 Filed 4-15-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 5000-04-M