Arms Sales Notification

Published date26 August 2020
Citation85 FR 52560
Record Number2020-18700
SectionNotices
CourtDefense Department
Federal Register, Volume 85 Issue 166 (Wednesday, August 26, 2020)
[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 166 (Wednesday, August 26, 2020)]
                [Notices]
                [Pages 52560-52563]
                From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
                [FR Doc No: 2020-18700]
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                DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
                Office of the Secretary
                [Transmittal No. 20-18]
                Arms Sales Notification
                AGENCY: Defense Security Cooperation Agency, Department of Defense.
                ACTION: Arms sales notice.
                -----------------------------------------------------------------------
                SUMMARY: The Department of Defense is publishing the unclassified text
                of an arms sales notification.
                FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Karma Job at [email protected]
                or (703) 697-8976.
                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, Transmittal 20-18 with
                attached Policy Justification and Sensitivity of Technology.
                 Dated: August 13, 2020.
                Aaron T. Siegel,
                Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.
                BILLING CODE 5001-06-P
                [[Page 52561]]
                [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN26AU20.002
                BILLING CODE 5001-06-C
                Transmittal No. 20-18
                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 Japan
                 (ii) Total Estimated Value:
                Major Defense Equipment*................ $11.30 billion
                Other................................... $11.81 billion
                 -------------------------------
                 TOTAL................................. $23.11 billion
                
                 (iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or
                Services under Consideration for Purchase:
                 Major Defense Equipment (MDE):
                Sixty-three (63) F-35A Conventional Take-Off and Landing (CTOL)
                Aircraft
                Forty-two (42) F-35B Short Take-Off and Vertical Landing (STOVL)
                Aircraft
                One hundred ten (110) Pratt and Whitney F135 Engines (includes 5
                spares)
                 Non-MDE:
                 Also included are Electronic Warfare Systems; Command, Control,
                Communications, Computers and Intelligence/Communications, Navigation
                and Identification; Autonomic Logistics Global Support System,
                Autonomic Logistics Information System; Flight Mission Trainer; Weapons
                Employment Capability, and other Subsystems, Features, and
                Capabilities; F-35 unique infrared flares; reprogramming center access
                and F-35 Performance Based Logistics; software development/integration;
                flight test instrumentation; aircraft ferry and tanker support; spare
                and repair parts; support equipment, tools and test equipment;
                technical data and publications; personnel training and training
                equipment; U.S. Government and contractor engineering, technical, and
                logistics support services; and other related elements of logistical
                and program support.
                 (iv) Military Department: Air Force (JA-D-SGN)
                 (v) Prior Related Cases, if any: JA-D-SBC
                 (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: July 9, 2020
                 *As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control Act.
                POLICY JUSTIFICATION
                Japan--F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Aircraft
                 The Government of Japan has requested to buy sixty-three (63) F-35A
                Conventional Takeoff and Landing (CTOL) aircraft, forty-two (42) F-35B
                Short Take-Off and Vertical Landing
                [[Page 52562]]
                (STOVL) aircraft, and one hundred ten (110) Pratt and Whitney F135
                engines (includes 5 spares). Also included are Electronic Warfare
                Systems; Command, Control, Communications, Computers and Intelligence/
                Communications, Navigation and Identification; Autonomic Logistics
                Global Support System, Autonomic Logistics Information System; Flight
                Mission Trainer; Weapons Employment Capability, and other Subsystems,
                Features, and Capabilities; F-35 unique infrared flares; reprogramming
                center access and F-35 Performance Based Logistics; software
                development/integration; flight test instrumentation; aircraft ferry
                and tanker support; spare and repair parts; support equipment, tools
                and test equipment; technical data and publications; personnel training
                and training equipment; U.S. Government and contractor engineering,
                technical, and logistics support services; and other related elements
                of logistics support. The estimated total cost is $23.11 billion.
                 This proposed sale will support the foreign policy goals and
                national security objectives of the United States by improving the
                security of a major ally that is a force for political stability and
                economic progress in the Asia-Pacific region. It is vital to U.S.
                national interest to assist Japan in developing and maintaining a
                strong and effective self-defense capability.
                 The proposed sale of aircraft and support will augment Japan's
                operational aircraft inventory and enhance its air-to-air and air-to-
                ground self-defense capability. The Japan Air Self-Defense Force's F-4
                aircraft are being decommissioned as F-35s are added to the inventory.
                Japan will have no difficulty absorbing these aircraft into its armed
                forces.
                 The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the
                basic military balance in the region.
                 The prime contractors will be Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company,
                Fort Worth, Texas; and Pratt and Whitney Military Engines, East
                Hartford, Connecticut. There are no known offset agreements proposed in
                connection with this potential sale.
                 Implementation of this proposed sale will require multiple trips to
                Japan involving U.S. Government and contractor representatives for
                technical reviews/support, programs management, and training over a
                period of 25 years. U.S. contractor representatives will be required in
                Japan to conduct Contractor Engineering Technical Services (CETS) and
                Autonomic Logistics and Global Support (ALGS) for after-aircraft
                delivery.
                 There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a
                result of this proposed sale.
                Transmittal No. 20-18
                 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 F-35A Conventional Take Off and Landing (CTOL) aircraft is a
                single-seat, singleengine, all-weather, stealth, fifth-generation,
                multirole aircraft. The F-35B Short Take-Off and Vertical Landing
                (STOVL) variant is capable of operating from short airfields and ships.
                Both variants contain sensitive technology including the low observable
                airframe/outer mold line, the Pratt and Whitney F135 engine, AN/APG-81
                radar, an integrated core processor central computer, a mission
                systems/electronic warfare suite, a multiple sensor suite, technical
                data/documentation, and associated software. Sensitive elements of the
                F-35A and F-35B are also included in operational flight and maintenance
                trainers. Sensitive and classified elements of the F-35A CTOL and F-35B
                STOVL aircraft include hardware, accessories, components, and
                associated software for the following major subsystems:
                 a. The Pratt and Whitney F135 engine is a single 40,000-lb thrust
                class engine designed for the F-35 and assures highly reliable,
                affordable performance. The engine is designed to be utilized in all F-
                35 variants, providing unmatched commonality and supportability
                throughout the worldwide base of F-35 users. The STOVL propulsion
                configuration consists of the main engine, diverter-less supersonic
                inlet, a three (3) Bearing Swivel Module, Roll Posts and Duct Assembly
                System, and Lift Fan.
                 b. The AN/APG-81 Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) is a
                high processing power/high transmission power electronic array capable
                of detecting air and ground targets from a greater distance than
                mechanically scanned array radars. It also contains a synthetic
                aperture radar (SAR), which creates high-resolution ground maps and
                provides weather data to the pilot, and provides air and ground tracks
                to the mission system, which uses it as a component to fuse sensor
                data.
                 c. The Electro-Optical Targeting System (EOTS) provides long-range
                detection and tracking as well as an infrared search and track (IRST)
                and forward-looking infrared (FLIR) capability for precision tracking,
                weapons delivery, and bomb damage assessment (BDA). The EOTS replaces
                multiple separate internal or podded systems typically found on legacy
                aircraft.
                 d. The Electro-Optical Distributed Aperture System (EODAS) provides
                the pilot with full spherical coverage for air-to-air and air-to-ground
                threat awareness, day/night vision enhancements, a fire control
                capability, and precision tracking of wingmen/friendly aircraft. The
                EODAS provides data directly to the pilot's helmet as well as the
                mission system.
                 e. The Electronic Warfare (EW) system is a reprogrammable,
                integrated system that provides radar warning and electronic support
                measures (ESM) along with a fully integrated countermeasures (CM)
                system. The EW system is the primary subsystem used to enhance
                situational awareness, targeting support and self-defense through the
                search, intercept, location and identification of in-band emitters and
                to automatically counter IR and RF threats.
                 f. The Command, Control, Communications, Computers and
                Intelligence/ Communications, Navigation, and Identification (C4I/CNI)
                system provides the pilot with unmatched connectivity to flight
                members, coalition forces, and the battlefield. It is an integrated
                subsystem designed to provide a broad spectrum of secure, anti-jam
                voice and data communications, precision radio navigation and landing
                capability, self-identification, beyond visual range target
                identification, and connectivity to off-board sources of information.
                It also includes an inertial navigation and global positioning system
                (GPS) for precise location information. The functionality is tightly
                integrated within the mission system to enhance efficiency.
                 g. The aircraft C4I/CNI system includes two data links, the Multi-
                Function Advanced Data Link (MADL) and Link 16. The MADL is designed
                specifically for the F-35 and allows for stealthy communications
                between F-35s. Link 16 data link equipment allows the F-35 to
                communicate with legacy aircraft using widely-distributed J-series
                message protocols.
                 h. The F-35 Autonomic Logistics Global Sustainment (ALGS) provides
                a fully integrated logistics management solution. ALGS integrates a
                number of functional areas, including supply chain management, repair,
                support equipment, engine support, and training. The ALGS
                infrastructure
                [[Page 52563]]
                employs a state-of-the-art information system that provides real-time,
                decision-worthy information for sustainment decisions by flight line
                personnel. Prognostic health monitoring technology is integrated with
                the air system and is crucial to predictive maintenance of vital
                components.
                 i. The F-35 Autonomic Logistics Information System (ALIS) provides
                an intelligent information infrastructure that binds all the key
                concepts of ALGS into an effective support system. ALIS establishes the
                appropriate interfaces among the F-35 Air Vehicle, the warfighter, the
                training system, government information technology (IT) systems, and
                supporting commercial enterprise systems. Additionally, ALIS provides a
                comprehensive tool for data collection and analysis, decision support,
                and action tracking.
                 j. The F-35 Training System includes several training devices to
                provide integrated training for pilots and maintainers. The pilot
                training devices include a Full Mission Simulator (FMS) and Deployable
                Mission Rehearsal Trainer (DMRT). The maintainer training devices
                include an Aircraft Systems Maintenance Trainer (ASMT), Ejection System
                Maintenance Trainer (ESMT), Outer Mold Line (OML) Lab, Flexible Linear
                Shaped Charge (FLSC) Trainer, F135 Engine Module Trainer, and Weapons
                Loading Trainer (WLT). The F-35 Training System can be integrated,
                where both pilots and maintainers learn in the same Integrated Training
                Center (ITC). Alternatively, the pilots and maintainers can train in
                separate facilities (Pilot Training Center and Maintenance Training
                Center).
                 k. Other subsystems, features, and capabilities include the F-35's
                low observable air frame, Integrated Core Processor (ICP) Central
                Computer, Helmet Mounted Display System (HMDS), Pilot Life Support
                System, Off-Board Mission Support (OMS) System, and publications/
                maintenance manuals. The HMDS provides a fully sunlight readable, bi-
                ocular display presentation of aircraft information projected onto the
                pilot's helmet visor. The use of a night vision camera integrated into
                the helmet eliminates the need for separate Night Vision Goggles (NVG).
                The Pilot Life Support System provides a measure of Pilot Chemical,
                Biological, and Radiological Protection through use of an OnBoard
                Oxygen Generating System (OBOGS); and an escape system that provides
                additional protection to the pilot. OBOGS takes the Power and Thermal
                Management System (PTMS) air and enriches it by removing gases (mainly
                nitrogen) by adsorption, thereby increasing the concentration of oxygen
                in the product gas and supplying breathable air to the pilot. The OMS
                provides a mission planning, mission briefing, and a maintenance/
                intelligence/tactical debriefing platform for the F-35.
                 2. The Reprogramming Center is located in the United States and
                provides F-35 customers a means to update F-35 electronic warfare
                databases.
                 3. The highest level of classification of information 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 Japan can provide
                substantially the same degree of protection for the sensitive
                technology being released as the U.S. Government. This sale is
                necessary in furthering 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 Japan.
                [FR Doc. 2020-18700 Filed 8-25-20; 8:45 am]
                BILLING CODE 5001-06-P
                

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