[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 231 (Monday, December 2, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 72066-72069]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-28766]
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Office of the Secretary
[Transmittal Nos. 13-44]
36(b)(1) Arms Sales Notification
AGENCY: Department of Defense, Defense Security Cooperation 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 Public Law 104-164 dated
July 21, 1996.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. B. English, DSCA/DBO/CFM, (703)
601-3740.
The following is a copy of a letter to the Speaker of the House of
Representatives, Transmittals 13-44 with attached transmittal, policy
justification, and Sensitivity of Technology.
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Dated:November 26, 2013.
Aaron Siegel
Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.
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[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN02DE13.018
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Transmittal No. 13-44
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: Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
(ii) Total Estimated Value:
Major Defense Equipment*................ $.35 billion
Other................................... .75 billion
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Total................................. 1.10 billion
(iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or
Services under Consideration for Purchase: 109 Link--16 Multifunction
Information Distribution System Low Volume Terminals (MIDS-LVT), Global
Command and Control Systems--Joint (GCCS-J), Identification Friend or
Foe (IFF), Commercial Satellite Communications (SATCOM), Combined
Enterprise Regional Information
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Exchange System (CENTRIXS) and follow-on systems, Commercial High
Frequency (HF) Radios, Commercial Ultra High Frequency/Very High
Frequency (UHF/VHF) Radios, HF Voice and Data, HF Sub-Net Relay (SNR),
Commercial HF Internet Protocol (IP)/SNR, Global Positioning System
(GPS), Air Defense System Interrogator (ADSI), communications support
equipment, information technology upgrades, spare and repair parts,
publications and technical documentation, personnel training and
training equipment, U.S. Government and contractor engineering and
technical support, and other elements of program support.
(iv) Military Department: Navy (SBQ).
(v) Prior Related Cases, if any: FMS Case BBG--$93M--29Apr02, FMS
Case GBK--$101M--29Apr02, FMS Case GBL--$24M--29Apr02, FMS Case LCF--
$15M--29Apr02, FMS Case GBM--$16M--31May11.
(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: 18 Nov 13.
* as defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control Act.
POLICY JUSTIFICATION
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia--C4I System Upgrade and Maintenance
The Government of Saudi Arabia has requested a possible sale of C4I
system upgrades and maintenance including: 109 Link-16 Multifunction
Information Distribution System Low Volume Terminals (MIDS-LVT), Global
Command and Control Systems--Joint (GCCS-J), Identification Friend or
Foe (IFF), Commercial Satellite Communications (SATCOM), Combined
Enterprise Regional Information Exchange System (CENTRIXS) and follow-
on systems, Commercial High Frequency (HF) Radios, Commercial Ultra
High Frequency/Very High Frequency (UHF/VHF) Radios, HF Voice and Data,
HF Sub-Net Relay (SNR), Commercial HF Internet Protocol (IP)/SNR,
Global Positioning System (GPS), Air Defense System Interrogator
(ADSI), communications support equipment, information technology
upgrades, spare and repair parts, publications and technical
documentation, personnel training and training equipment, U.S.
Government and contractor engineering and technical support, and other
elements of program support. The estimated cost is $1.1 billion.
This proposed sale will contribute to the foreign policy and
national security of the United States by helping to improve the
security of a strategic regional partner which has been, and continues
to be, an important force for political stability and economic progress
in the Middle East.
The proposed sale will improve the Royal Saudi Naval Forces'
capability to maintain and upgrade its current C4I system, increase the
ability of RSNF vessels and manpower to effectively protect Saudi
Arabia's coastal strategic assets, and keep pace with the rapid
advances in C4I technology to remain a viable U.S. coalition partner in
the region. The RSNF will use the upgraded C4I system to provide
situational awareness of naval activity in the Persian Gulf and the Red
Sea.
The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the
basic military balance in the region.
There will be no principal contractors involved with this proposed
sale. The acquisition and integration of all systems will be managed by
the U.S. Navy's Space and Naval Warfare Weapons Command (SPAWAR). There
are no known offset agreements proposed in connection with this
potential sale.
Implementation of this proposed sale will require the assignment of
14 U.S. Government and contractor representatives in the Kingdom of
Saudi Arabia for ten years to support network design, acquisition,
implementation, installation, and integration efforts.
There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a
result of this proposed sale.
Transmittal No. 13-44
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 following technologies included in this sale are considered
sensitive (there are no systems with embedded COMSEC identified in this
notification with the exception of Link-16 Multifunction Information
Distribution System Low Volume Terminals (MIDS-LVT) and IFF:
2. Link-16 Multifunction Information Distribution System Low Volume
Terminals (MIDS-LVT) is a command, control, communications, and
intelligence (C3I) system incorporating high-capacity, jam-resistant,
digital communication links for exchange of near real-time tactical
information including both data and voice, among air, ground and sea
elements. Link-16 Multifunction Information Distribution System Low
Volume Terminals (MIDS-LVT) is intended to support key theater
functions such as surveillance, identification, air control, weapons
engagement coordination, and direction for U.S. Services and those
allied and partner nations for which there is a validated
interoperability requirement. The system will provide jam-resistant,
wide-area communications on a Link-16 Multifunction Information
Distribution System Low Volume Terminals (MIDS-LVT) network among Link-
16 Multifunction Information Distribution System Low Volume Terminals
(MIDS-LVT) equipped platforms. Link-16 Multifunction Information
Distribution System Low Volume Terminals (MIDS-LVT) will be used for
both shore and shipboard use at the strategic and tactical levels as a
real-time bridge between tactical data links and intelligence data
sources Link-16 Multifunction Information Distribution System Low
Volume Terminals (MIDS-LVT) receives, processes, correlates, and
displays tracks from local radars, tactical data links, and
intelligence sources with minimal operator interaction. Link-16
Multifunction Information Distribution System Low Volume Terminals
(MIDS-LVT) provides a correlated, real-time picture of the battle
space. These devices have embedded COMSEC which contains sensitive
encryption algorithms and keying material.
3. Global Command and Control Systems--Joint (GCCS-J) provides the
operational commander's warfighting capability with aids in the
decision-making process by receiving, retrieving, and displaying
information to allow warfighters to plan, coordinate, exercise, execute
and evaluate naval and joint operations. GCCS-J is an open-ended
architecture system consisting of servers, workstations, routers, hubs,
and encryption devices, and integrates information from multiple C4I
functional areas. (GCCS-J) operations contain sensitive operational
data feeds, data formats, networking protocols and system
architectures.
4. Combined Enterprise Regional Information Exchange System
(CENTRIXS) is a collection of classified coalition networks that enable
information sharing through the use of email and web services, instant
messaging or chat, the Common Operational Picture service, and Voice
over IP. CENTRIXS supports combatant commands throughout the world.
CENTRIXS contains sensitive operational data feeds, data formats,
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networking protocols and system architectures.
5. Air Defense System Interrogator (ADSI) provides an interface for
military and commercial radars, tactical data links and intelligence
reporting systems. ADSI also offers a general interface and translation
capability for a variety of C4I data link formats and can interface
tactical systems with simulations. ADSI contains sensitive operational
data feeds, data formats, networking protocols and system
architectures.
6. Sub-Net Relay is a masterless, ad-hoc, self-organizing data
networking technology with inherent relay capabilities that employ
tactical line-of-sight bearers to carry internet protocol data between
groups of ships. HF Sub-Net Relay, which interfaces with Link-16
Multifunction Information Distribution System Low Volume Terminals
(MIDS-LVT), contains sensitive operational data feeds, data formats,
networking protocols and system architectures while the HF/IP Sub Net
Relay is part of a commercial capability.
7. Radio Frequency (RF) and Internet Protocol (IP) Interfaces
included in this case do not contain sensitive technology, however,
they will connect to communications security devices which are not
included in this case(s).
8. Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) is an identification system
designed for command and control. It is a system that enables
interrogation systems to distinguish friendly aircraft, vehicles, or
forces, and to determine their bearing and range from the interrogator.
IFF contains embedded security devices containing sensitive encryption
algorithms and keying material. IFF contains sensitive operational data
feeds, data formats, networking protocols and system architectures.
9. Commercial Global Positioning System (GPS)-provides a space-
based global navigation satellite system (GNSS) that has reliable
location and time information in all weather and at all times and
anywhere on or near the Earth when and where there is an unobstructed
line of sight to four or more GPS satellites. Emergent militarized GPS
requirements will be addressed in future cases, if necessary.
10. Commercial HF Voice and Data Radios and Ultra High Frequency/
Very High Frequency (UHF/VHF) Radios will be procured with this case.
No sensitive encryption algorithms or keying material will be provided
through this case.
11. If a technologically advanced adversary were to obtain
knowledge of the specific hardware and software elements, 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. Appropriate safeguards will be
taken in regards to shared US Government information passed through the
networks of our RSNF strategic partner.
[FR Doc. 2013-28766 Filed 11-29-13; 8:45 am]
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