89 FR 198 pgs. 82579-82581 - Arms Sales Notification
Type: NOTICEVolume: 89Number: 198Pages: 82579 - 82581
Pages: 82579, 82580, 82581Docket number: [Transmittal No. 23-41]
FR document: [FR Doc. 2024-23552 Filed 10-10-24; 8:45 am]
Agency: Defense Department
Official PDF Version: PDF Version
[top]
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Office of the Secretary
[Transmittal No. 23-41]
Arms Sales Notification
AGENCY:
Defense Security Cooperation Agency, Department of Defense (DoD).
ACTION:
Arms sales notice.
SUMMARY:
The DoD is publishing the unclassified text of an arms sales notification.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Pamela Young at (703) 953-6092, pamela.a.young14.civ@mail.mil, or dsca.ncr.rsrcmgmt.list.cns-mbx@mail.mil.
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 23-41, Policy Justification, and Sensitivity of Technology.
Dated: October 7, 2024.
Patricia L. Toppings,
OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.
BILLING CODE 6001-FR-P
[top]
[Federal Register graphic "EN11OC24.007" is not available. Please view the graphic in the PDF version of this document.]
BILLING CODE 6001-FR-C
Transmittal No. 23-41
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 Norway
(ii) Total Estimated Value:
| Major Defense Equipment?* | $248 million |
| Other | $ 45 million |
| Total | $293 million |
(iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or Services Under Consideration for Purchase: Foreign Military Sales (FMS) case NO-D-AAG was below the congressional notification threshold at $18.9 million ($7.2 million in Major Defense Equipment (MDE)), and included twenty (20 Guided Bomb Unit (GBU)-53/B Small Diameter Bombs-Increment II (SDB-II) All-Up-Rounds (AURs). The Government of Norway has requested the case be amended to include up to an additional five hundred eighty (580) GBU-53/B SDB-II AURs. This amendment will increase the MDE and total case values above notification thresholds and thus requires notification of the entire case.
Major Defense Equipment (MDE):
Up to Six Hundred (600) GBU-53/B Small Diameter Bombs-Increment II (SDB-II) All-Up-Rounds (AURs)
Non-MDE:
[top] Also included are SDB-II Weapon Load Crew Trainers (WLCT) and Practical Explosive Ordnance Disposal Trainers (PEDT); munitions support and support equipment; unclassified software delivery and support; spare parts, consumables, and accessories;
(iv) Military Department: Air Force (NO-D-AAG)
(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 Defense Services Proposed to be Sold: See Attached Annex
(viii) Date Report Delivered to Congress: June 28, 2023
*?As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control Act.
POLICY JUSTIFICATION
Norway-Small Diameter Bomb II
The Government of Norway has requested to buy up to five hundred eighty (580) GBU-53/B Small Diameter Bombs-Increment II (SDB-II) All-Up-Rounds (AURs) that will be added to a previously implemented case. The original foreign military sales (FMS) case, valued at $18.9 million, included twenty (20) GBU-53/B, SDB-II AURs. This amendment will increase the MDE and total case values above notification thresholds and thus requires notification of the entire case. Therefore, this notification is for a total of up to six hundred (600) GBU-53/B, SDB-II AURs. Also included are SDB-II Weapon Load Crew Trainers (WLCT) and Practical Explosive Ordnance Disposal Trainers (PEDT); munitions support and support equipment; unclassified software delivery and support; spare parts, consumables, and accessories; repair and return support; modifications and maintenance support; transportation support; unclassified publications and technical documentation; personnel training equipment and support; studies and surveys; U.S. Government and contractor engineering, technical, and logistics support services; and other related elements of logistical and program support. The total estimated cost is $293 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 an important force for political stability and economic progress in Europe.
The proposed sale will improve Norway's capability to meet current and future threats by bolstering operational readiness while enhancing air and defense capabilities with a modernized weapon to support the new F-35A fleet. Norway will have no difficulty absorbing this equipment 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 Raytheon Missile Systems, Tucson, 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 Norway.
There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a result of this proposed sale.
Transmittal No. 23-41
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 GBU-53 Small Diameter Bomb-Increment II (SDB-II) Storm Breaker All-Up Round (AUR) is a 250-pound class precision-guided, semiautonomous, conventional, air-to-ground munition used to defeat moving targets through adverse weather from standoff range. The SDB-II has deployable wings and fins and uses Global Positioning System/Inertial Navigation System (GPS/INS) guidance, network-enabled datalink (Link-16 and Ultra High Frequency), and a multi-mode seeker (millimeter wave radar, imaging infrared, semi-active laser) to autonomously search, acquire, track, and defeat a variety of moving or stationary targets, at standoff range or close in, including a variety of attack modes. The SDB-II employs a multi-effects warhead (blast, fragmentation, and shaped-charge) for maximum lethality against armored and soft targets. The SDB-II weapon system consists of the tactical AUR weapon, a 4-place common carriage system, and mission planning system munitions application program (MAP).
a. The SDB-II Weapon Load Crew Trainer (WLCT) is a mass mockup of the tactical AUR used for load crew and maintenance training. It does not contain energetics, a live fuze, any sensitive components, or hazardous material. It is not flight certified.
b. The SDB-II Practical Explosive Ordnance Disposal Trainer (PEST) is an Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) training unit with sections and internal subassemblies which are identical to, or correlate to, the external hardware, sections, and internal subassemblies of the tactical AUR. The PEST does not contain energetics, a live fuze, any sensitive components, or hazardous material. It is not flight certified.
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 weapon system effectiveness or be used in the development of a system with similar or advanced capabilities.
4. A determination has been made that Norway 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 Norway.
[FR Doc. 2024-23552 Filed 10-10-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6001-FR-P