Notice2025-20510
Arms Sales Notification
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
November 21, 2025
Issuing agencies
Defense Department
Abstract
The DoD is publishing the unclassified text of an arms sales notification.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 90 Issue 223 (Friday, November 21, 2025)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 223 (Friday, November 21, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52624-52626]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-20510]
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Office of the Secretary
[Transmittal No. 24-85]
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: Urooj Zahra at (703) 695-6233,
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#5a2f2835353074203b32283b7439332c1a373b333674373336"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="8bfef9e4e4e1a5f1eae3f9eaa5e8e2fdcbe6eae2e7a5e6e2e7">[email protected]</span></a>, or <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#cca8bfafade2a2afbee2bebfbeafa1aba1b8e2a0a5bfb8e2afa2bfe1a1aeb48ca1ada5a0e2a1a5a0"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="4d293e2e2c63232e3f633f3e3f2e202a20396321243e39632e233e60202f350d202c242163202421">[email protected]</span></a>.
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-
85, Policy Justification, and Sensitivity of Technology.
Dated: November 18, 2025.
Stephanie J. Bost,
Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.
BILLING CODE 6001-FR-P
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BILLING CODE 6001-FR-C
Transmittal No. 24-85
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 Italy
(ii) Total Estimated Value:
Major Defense Equipment *................ $212 million
Other.................................... $526 million
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TOTAL.................................. $738 million
(iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or
Services under Consideration for Purchase:
Major Defense Equipment (MDE):
Six (6) Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) MQ-9 Block 5 Aircraft
Three (3) Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) MQ-9 Mobile Ground Control
Stations (MGCS)
Twelve (12) AN/DAS-4 Multi-spectral Target Systems
Nine (9) LYNX AN/APY-8 Block 20A Synthetic Aperture Radars with
Maritime Wide Area Surveillance (MWAS) capability
One (1) Embedded Global Positioning & Inertial Navigation System
(EGI)
Non-Major Defense Equipment:
The following non-MDE items will also be included: Reaper/Predator
engines; Ruggedized Aircraft Maintenance Test Stations (RAMTS); AN/ARC-
210 Ultra High Frequency (UHF)/Very High Frequency (VHF) Radios (RT-
2036); Ground Data Terminals (GDT) (line of sight link); AN/PYQ-10
Simple Key Loaders; KIV-77 Identification Friend or Foe (IFF)
Cryptographic Applique; Transponder IFF AN/APX-119; KY100M Narrowband/
Wideband terminal communications security (COMSEC) device; UAS MQ-9
Fixed Ground Control System (FGCS); satellite communications (SATCOM)
Earth Terminal Subsystems (SETSS); precision navigation; integration
and test support and equipment; aircraft or engine support equipment;
spare parts, consumables and accessories, and repair and return
support; major modifications, maintenance, and maintenance support;
facilities and construction support; transportation and airlift
support; classified and unclassified software delivery and support;
classified and unclassified publications and technical documentation;
personnel training and training equipment; special insurance and
warranties; studies and surveys; 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: Air Force (IT-D-SAB)
(v) Prior Related Cases, if any: IT-D-SAG
(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: August 15, 2024
* as defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control Act.
POLICY JUSTIFICATION
Italy--MQ-9 Block 5 Aircraft
The Government of Italy has requested to buy six (6) Unmanned
Aerial System (UAS) MQ-9 Block 5 Aircraft; three (3) Unmanned Aerial
System (UAS) MQ-9 Mobile Ground Control Stations (MGCS); twelve (12)
AN/DAS-4 Multi-spectral Target Systems; nine (9) LYNX AN/APY-8 Block
20A Synthetic Aperture Radars with Maritime Wide Area Surveillance
(MWAS) capability; and one (1) Embedded Global Positioning & Inertial
Navigation System (EGI). The following non-MDE items will also be
included: Reaper/Predator engines; Ruggedized Aircraft Maintenance Test
Stations (RAMTS); AN/ARC-210 Ultra High Frequency (UHF)/Very High
Frequency (VHF) Radios (RT-2036); Ground Data Terminals (GDT) (line of
sight link); AN/PYQ-10 Simple Key Loaders; KIV-77 Identification Friend
or Foe (IFF) Cryptographic Applique; Transponder IFF AN/APX-119; KY100M
Narrowband/Wideband terminal communications security (COMSEC) device;
UAS MQ-9 Fixed Ground Control System (FGCS); satellite communications
(SATCOM) Earth Terminal Subsystems (SETSS); precision navigation;
integration and test support and equipment; aircraft or engine support
equipment; spare parts, consumables and accessories, and repair and
return support; major modifications, maintenance, and maintenance
support; facilities and construction support; transportation and
airlift support; classified and unclassified software delivery and
support; classified and unclassified publications and technical
documentation; personnel training and training equipment; special
insurance and warranties; studies and surveys; 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 $738 million.
This proposed sale will support the foreign policy goals and
national security objectives of the U.S. by improving the security of a
NATO Ally that is a force for political stability and economic progress
in Europe.
The proposed sale will improve Italy's capability to meet current
and future threats by expanding and improving the Italian Air Force's
MQ-9 fleet and advancing U.S. and NATO policy goals of security and
interoperability. Italy already has MQ-9 Block 5 aircraft with strike
capabilities in its inventory and will have no difficulty absorbing
these articles 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 General Atomics, located in San
Diego, CA. 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 Italy.
There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a
result of this proposed sale.
Transmittal No. 24-85
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 MQ-9A Block 5 is a Medium Altitude Long-Endurance (MALE)
Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) that can be used for surveillance,
military reconnaissance, and targeting missions. Real-time missions are
flown under the control of a pilot in a Ground Control Station (GCS). A
datalink is maintained that uplinks control commands and downlinks
video with telemetry data. Line-of-Sight (LOS) communication is enabled
through C-Band datalink and Beyond-Line-of-Sight (BLOS) communication
is enabled through Ku-Band Satellite Communication (SATCOM). Control of
the aircraft and payload are done through direct manual inputs by the
crew or through preprogrammed mission. Preprogrammed missions are
planned and uploaded by the pilots via the GCS and are executed through
the control of an onboard suite of redundant computers and sensors.
Payload imagery
[[Page 52626]]
and data are downlinked to the GCS. The pilot may initiate pre-
programmed missions once the aircraft is airborne and lands the
aircraft when the mission is completed. Pilots can change preprogrammed
mission parameters as often as required. When operated BLOS, aircraft
control is given to other strategically placed Ground Control
Stations--permitting remote split operations (RSO). The MQ-9A Block 5
is designed to carry 850 pounds of internal payload with maximum fuel
and can carry multiple mission payloads aloft. The MQ-9A Block 5 will
be configured for the following payloads: Electro-Optical/Infrared
(E.O./IR), Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), Electronic Support Measures
(ESM), Signals Intelligence (SIGINT), laser designators, and various
weapons packages.
a. The GCS can be either fixed or mobile; both versions incorporate
workstations that allow operators to control and monitor the aircraft,
as well as record and exploit downlinked payload data.
b. The M-Code capable Embedded Global Positioning System/Inertial
Navigation System (GPS/INS) (EGI), with an embedded GPS Precise
Positioning Service (PPS) Receiver Application Module-Standard
Electronic Module (GRAM-S/M), is a self-contained navigation system
that provides acceleration, velocity, position, attitude, platform
azimuth, magnetic and true heading, altitude, body angular rates, time
tags, and coordinated universal time (UTC) synchronized time. The
embedded GRAM-S/M enables access to both the encrypted P(Y) and M-Code
signals, providing protection against active spoofing attacks, enhanced
military exclusivity, integrity, and anti-jam.
c. The C-Band Line-of-Sight (LOS) Ground Data Terminals and Ku-Band
SATCOM GA-ASI Transportable Earth Stations (GATES), or equivalent,
provide command, control, and data acquisition for the MQ-9.
2. The Ruggedized Aircraft Maintenance Test Station (RAMTS) is a
mobile test station used to perform diagnostic and operational checks
on the MQ-9.
3. The AN/APY-8 Lynx Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) and Ground
Moving Target Indicator (GMTI) system provides all-weather
surveillance, tracking and targeting for military and commercial
customers from manned and unmanned vehicles.
4. The AN/APX-119 is an Identification Friend or Foe (IFF)
transponder that provides military aircraft with a secure combat
identification capability to help reduce fratricide and enhance
battlespace awareness. It also provides safe access to civilian
airspace.
5. The KIV-77 is a cryptographic applique for IFF. It can be loaded
with Mode 5 classified elements.
6. The KY-100M is a cryptographic-modernized lightweight terminal
for secure voice and data communications. The KY-100M provides wideband
as well as narrowband half-duplex communication. Operating in tactical
ground, marine, and airborne applications, the KY-100M enables secure
communication with a broad range of radio and satellite equipment.
7. The AN/PYQ-10 Simple Key Loader is a handheld device used for
securely receiving, storing, and transferring data between compatible
cryptographic and communications equipment.
8. The highest level of classification of defense articles,
components, and services included in this potential sale is SECRET.
9. 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.
10. A determination has been made that Italy 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.
11. All defense articles and services listed in this transmittal
have been authorized for release and export to the Government of Italy.
[FR Doc. 2025-20510 Filed 11-20-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6001-FR-P
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