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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 13 (Wednesday, January 22, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7670-7672]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2025-01491]

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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Office of the Secretary

[Transmittal No. 24-25]

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, 
[email protected], or [email protected].

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 24-
25, Policy Justification, and Sensitivity of Technology.

    Dated: January 16, 2025.
Stephanie J. Bost,
Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.
BILLING CODE 6001-FR-P

[[Page 7671]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN22JA25.135

BILLING CODE 6001-FR-C
Transmittal No. 24-25
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: Republic of Korea
    (ii) Total Estimated Value:

Major Defense Equipment *...............  $ 6.9 million
Other...................................  $163.7 million
                                         -------------------------------
  TOTAL.................................  $170.6 million
 

    (iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or 
Services under Consideration for Purchase:

Major Defense Equipment (MDE):
    Five (5) BQM-177A Subsonic Sea-Skimming Aerial Targets (SSAT) for 
KDX-III Batch-II AEGIS Class Destroyers
Non-MDE:
    Also included are GQM-163 target drones; classified books and other 
publications (technical and non-technical); test support; technical 
documentation; personnel training; United States (U.S.) Government and 
contractor engineering, technical, and logistics support services; and 
other related elements of logistics and program support.

    (iv) Military Department: Navy (KS-P-GTP)
    (v) Prior Related Cases, if any: None
    (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

[[Page 7672]]

Defense Services Proposed to be Sold: See Attached Annex
    (viii) Date Report Delivered to Congress: March 7, 2024
    * as defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control Act.

POLICY JUSTIFICATION

Republic of Korea--Subsonic Sea-Skimming Aerial Targets for KDX-III 
Batch-II AEGIS Class Destroyers

    The Republic of Korea has requested to buy five (5) BQM-177A 
Subsonic Sea-Skimming Aerial Targets (SSAT) for KDX-III Batch-II AEGIS 
Class Destroyers. Also included are GQM-163 target drones; classified 
books and other publications (technical and non-technical); test 
support; technical documentation; personnel training; U.S. Government 
and contractor engineering, technical, and logistics support services; 
and other related elements of logistics and program support. The 
estimated total cost is $170.6 million.
    This proposed sale will support the foreign policy goals and 
national security objectives of the U.S. by improving the security of a 
major ally that is a force for political stability and economic 
progress in the Indo-Pacific region.
    The proposed sale will improve the Republic of Korea's capability 
to meet current and future threats by performing Combat System Ship 
Qualification Trials (CSSQT) for its new KDX-III Batch-II AEGIS Class 
Destroyers. The KDX-III Batch-II CSSQT efforts will demonstrate the 
ship's ability to safely and effectively launch and control weapons, 
demonstrate proper integrated hardware operation, demonstrate system 
performance based on key requirements, and provide realistic training 
for the shipboard anti-air warfare firing teams. The Republic of Korea 
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 contractor for the BQM-177A SSAT will be Kratos 
Defense, Sacramento, CA, and Fort Walton Beach, FL. The principal 
contractor for the GQM-163A target drones will be Northrop Grumman, 
Chandler, AZ. There are no known offset agreements proposed in 
connection with this potential sale.
    Implementation of this proposed sale will not require the 
assignment of any additional U.S. Government or contractor 
representatives to the Republic of Korea.
    There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a 
result of this proposed sale.
Transmittal No. 24-25
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 BQM-177A Subsonic Sea-Skimming Aerial Target (SSAT) is a 
subsonic target with capabilities to provide realistic threat 
representation. This aerial target replicates modern subsonic Anti-Ship 
Cruise Missile threats in support of fleet training and developmental, 
and operational testing of major Department of Defense and 
international weapon systems. The BQM-177A aerial targets support live-
fire Test and Evaluation events for AEGIS, SM-6, SM-2, Rolling Airframe 
Missile (RAM), Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile (ESSM), and fleet training 
events. The BQM-177A assets for this potential sale will not be 
physically delivered to the Republic of Korea. They will remain in U.S. 
Navy (USN) custody and reserved as an allocation to the Republic of 
Korea until they are required at the USN Pacific Missile Range Facility 
(PMRF) to support the KDX-III Batch-II AEGIS Class Destroyers' (DDG 
995, DDG 996, and DDG 997) Combat System Ship Qualification Trials 
(CSSQT).
    2. The GQM-163A Coyote is a non-recoverable supersonic sea-skimming 
aerial target capable of speeds in excess of Mach 2.7, cruising 
altitudes from 13 to 66 feet, high diving speeds at Mach 3.9, and 
cruising altitudes up to 52,000 feet. This aerial target replicates a 
family of supersonic sea-skimming anti-ship cruise missile threats to 
meet critical Test and Evaluation requirements of Ship Self-Defense 
Systems (SSDS) and fleet training. The GQM-163A aerial target supports 
live-fire Test and Evaluation events for AEGIS, SM-6, SM-2, RAM, ESSM, 
and fleet training events. The GQM-163A assets for this potential sale 
will not be physically delivered to the Republic of Korea. They will 
remain in USN custody and reserved as an allocation to the Republic of 
Korea until they are required at the USN PMRF to support the KDX-III 
Batch-II AEGIS Class Destroyers' (DDG 995, DDG 996 and DDG 997) CSSQT.
    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 the Republic of Korea 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.
    6. All defense articles and services listed in this transmittal 
have been authorized for release and export to the Republic of Korea.

[FR Doc. 2025-01491 Filed 1-21-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6001-FR-P
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