89 FR 158 pgs. 66362-66364 - Arms Sales Notification
Type: NOTICEVolume: 89Number: 158Pages: 66362 - 66364
Pages: 66362, 66363, 66364Docket number: [Transmittal No. 22-60]
FR document: [FR Doc. 2024-18288 Filed 8-14-24; 8:45 am]
Agency: Defense Department
Official PDF Version: PDF Version
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Office of the Secretary
[Transmittal No. 22-60]
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:
Neil Hedlund at neil.g.hedlund.civ@mail.mil or (703) 697-9214.
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 22-60, Policy Justification, and Sensitivity of Technology.
Dated: August 12, 2024.
Patricia L. Toppings,
OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.
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[Federal Register graphic "EN15AU24.016" is not available. Please view the graphic in the PDF version of this document.]
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Transmittal No. 22-60
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 Lithuania
(ii) Total Estimated Value:
| Major Defense Equipment?* | $440 million |
| Other | $ 55 million |
| TOTAL | $495 million |
Funding Source: National Funds and Foreign Military Financing (FMF) (if approved)
(iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or Services under Consideration for Purchase:
Major Defense Equipment (MDE):
Eight (8) M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) Launchers
Thirty-six (36) M30A2 Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) Alternative Warhead (AW) Missile Pods with Insensitive Munitions Propulsion System (IMPS)
Thirty-six (36) M31A2 GMLRS Unitary High Explosive (HE) Missile Pods
Thirty-six (36) XM403 Extended Range GMLRS (ER GMLRS) Alternative Warhead (AW) Missile Pods with IMPS
Thirty-six (36) XM404 Extended Range GMLRS (ER GMLRS) Unitary Pods with IMPS
Eighteen (18) M57 Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) Missile Pods
Non-MDE:
[top] Also included are M28A2 Low Cost Reduced Range Practice Rocket (LCRRPR) pods; International Field Artillery Tactical Data System (IFATDS); battle management system Vehicle Integration Kits; ruggedized laptops; training
(iv) Military Department: Army (LH-B-UEG)
(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: November 9, 2022
*?As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control Act.
POLICY JUSTIFICATION
Lithuania-M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS)
The Government of Lithuania has requested to buy eight (8) M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) Launchers; thirty-six (36) M30A2 Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) Alternative Warhead (AW) Missile Pods with Insensitive Munitions Propulsion System (IMPS); thirty-six (36) M31A2 GMLRS Unitary High Explosive (HE) Missile Pods; thirty-six (36) XM403 Extended Range GMLRS (ER GMLRS) Alternative Warhead (AW) Missile Pods with IMPS; thirty-six (36) XM404 Extended Range GMLRS (ER GMLRS) Unitary Pods with IMPS; and eighteen (18) M57 Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) Missile Pods. Also included are M28A2 Low Cost Reduced Range Practice Rocket (LCRRPR) pods; International Field Artillery Tactical Data System (IFATDS); battle management system Vehicle Integration Kits; ruggedized laptops; training equipment publications for HIMARS and munitions; and other related elements of program and logistics support. The total estimated cost is $495 million.
This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States by helping to improve the military capability of a NATO Ally that is an important force for ensuring political stability and economic progress within Eastern Europe.
The proposed sale will contribute to Lithuania's military goals of updating its capability while further enhancing interoperability with the United States and other allies. Lithuania intends to use these defense articles and services to modernize its armed forces and expand its capability to strengthen its homeland defense and deter regional threats. Lithuania 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 will be Lockheed Martin, Grand Prairie, TX. There are no known offset agreements proposed in connection with this potential sale.
Implementation of this proposed sale will require U.S. Government or contractor representatives to travel to Lithuania for program management reviews to support the program. Travel is expected to occur approximately twice per year as needed to support equipment fielding and training.
There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a result of this proposed sale.
Transmittal No. 22-60
Notice of Proposed Issuance of Letter of Offer Pursuant to Section 36(b)(1) of the Arms Export Control Act, as amended
(vii) Sensitivity of Technology
1. The M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) is a C-130 transportable wheeled launcher mounted on a 5-ton Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles truck chassis. HIMARS is the modern Army-fielded version of the M270 Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) launcher and can fire all the MLRS Family of Munitions/Missiles (FOM) that includes Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS), Extended Range GMLRS, and the Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS). Utilizing the FOM, the HIMARS can engage targets between 15 and 300 kilometers with Global Positioning System/Precise Positioning Service (GPS/PPS)-aided precision accuracy.
2. The GMLRS M31A2 Unitary is the Army's primary munition for units fielding the M142 HIMARS and M270Al MLRS Launchers. The M31A2 Unitary is a solid propellant artillery rocket that uses GPS/PPS-aided inertial guidance to accurately and quickly deliver a single high-explosive blast fragmentation warhead to targets at ranges from 15-70 kilometers. The rockets are fired from a launch pod container that also serves as the storage and transportation container for the rockets. Each rocket pod holds six (6) total rockets.
3. The M30A2 GMLRS AW shares a greater than 90% commonality with the M31A1/A2 Unitary. The primary difference between the GMLRS Unitary and GMLRS AW is the replacement of the Unitary high explosive warhead with a 200-pound fragmentation warhead of pre-formed tungsten penetrators which is optimized for effectiveness against a large area and imprecisely located targets. The munitions otherwise share a common motor, GPS/PPS-aided inertial guidance and control system, a multi-option fuzing height of burst capability, and effective range of 15-70 km.
4. The M57 ATACMS Unitary is a conventional, semi-ballistic missile that utilizes a 500-pound high explosive warhead. It has an effective range of between 70 and 300 kilometers and has increased lethality and accuracy over previous versions of the ATACMS due to a GPS/Precise Position System (PPS) aided navigation system.
5. The ER GMLRS missiles provide a persistent, responsive, all-weather, rapidly deployed, long range, surface-to-surface, area- and point-precision strike capability. The XM403 Alternative Warhead (AW), like GMLRS M30A1/A2, carries a 200-pound fragmentation assembly filled with high explosives which, upon detonation, accelerates two layers of preformed penetrators optimized for effectiveness against large area and imprecisely located targets. The XM404 Unitary, like GMLRS M31A1/A2, has a 200-pound class unitary with a steel blast-fragmentation case, designed for low collateral damage against point targets. Both variants of the ER GMLRS missiles maintain the accuracy and effectiveness demonstrated by the baseline GMLRS out to a maximum range of 150 km (double that of the GMLRS capability).
6. The highest level of classification of defense articles, components, and services included in this potential sale is SECRET.
7. 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.
8. A determination has been made that Lithuania 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.
9. All defense articles and services listed in this transmittal have been authorized for release and export to the Government of Lithuania.
[FR Doc. 2024-18288 Filed 8-14-24; 8:45 am]
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