Notice2025-22711
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
December 15, 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 238 (Monday, December 15, 2025)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 238 (Monday, December 15, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57981-57983]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-22711]
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Office of the Secretary
[Transmittal No. 24-90]
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#b2c7c0ddddd89cc8d3dac0d39cd1dbc4f2dfd3dbde9cdfdbde"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="b4c1c6dbdbde9aced5dcc6d59ad7ddc2f4d9d5ddd89ad9ddd8">[email protected]</span></a>, or <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#2d495e4e4c03434e5f035f5e5f4e404a40590341445e59034e435e00404f556d404c444103404441"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="98fcebfbf9b6f6fbeab6eaebeafbf5fff5ecb6f4f1ebecb6fbf6ebb5f5fae0d8f5f9f1f4b6f5f1f4">[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-
90, Policy Justification, and Sensitivity of Technology.
Dated: December 10, 2025.
Stephanie J. Bost,
Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.
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[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN15DE25.003
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Transmittal No. 24-90
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 *............... $ 2.6 million
Other................................... $110.4 million
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TOTAL................................. $113.0 million
(iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or
Services under Consideration for Purchase:
Major Defense Equipment (MDE):
Up to two (2) BQM-177A Subsonic Sea-Skimming Aerial Targets (SSAT)
for Aegis System Equipped Vessels (ASEV)
Non-Major Defense Equipment:
The following non-MDE items will also be included: GQM-163 target
drones; follow-on technical support for ASEVs, including for Combat
Systems Sea Qualification Trials (CSSQT) and sustainment support
services; Aegis computer software updates; combat systems integration;
system integration, testing, overhauls, and upgrades; development,
familiarization, operational, and maintenance support; classified books
and other
[[Page 57983]]
publications (technical and non-technical); adaption data; annual
service agreements; test support; technical documentation; personnel
training; 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: Navy (JA-P-QPI, JA-P-QQU)
(v) Prior Related Cases, if any: JA-P-QCX, JA-P-QEZ, JA-P-QKW
(vi) Sales Commission, Fee, etc., Paid, Offered, or Agreed to be
Paid: None known
(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: October 25, 2024
* as defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control Act
POLICY JUSTIFICATION
Japan--Subsonic Sea-Skimming Aerial Targets and Follow-On Technical
Support
The Government of Japan has requested to buy up to two (2) BQM-177A
Subsonic Sea-Skimming Aerial Targets (SSAT) for Aegis System Equipped
Vessels (ASEV). The following non-MDE items will also be included: GQM-
163 target drones; follow-on technical support for ASEVs, including for
Combat Systems Sea Qualification Trials (CSSQT) and sustainment support
services; Aegis computer software updates; combat systems integration;
system integration, testing, overhauls, and upgrades; development,
familiarization, operational, and maintenance support; classified books
and other publications (technical and non-technical); adaption data;
annual service agreements; test support; technical documentation;
personnel training; 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 $113
million.
This proposed sale will support the foreign policy goals and
national security objectives of the U.S. by improving the security of a
major ally that is a force for political stability and economic
progress in the Indo-Pacific region.
The proposed sale will improve Japan's capability to meet current
and future threats by ensuring the Japan Maritime Self Defense Force's
(JMSDF) Aegis fleet remains ready to provide critical capabilities in
the defense of Japan. Japan 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 for the BQM-177A SSATs will be Kratos
Defense, located in Sacramento, CA, and Fort Walton Beach, FL. The
principal contractor for the GQM-163A target drones will be Northrop
Grumman, located in Chandler, AZ. The principal contractor for the
Aegis Weapon System (AWS) will be Lockheed Martin Corporation, located
in Moorestown, NJ. 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 Japan.
There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a
result of this proposed sale.
Transmittal No. 24-90
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 BQM-177A Subsonic Sea-Skimming Aerial Target (SSAT) is a
subsonic aerial target with capabilities to provide realistic threat
representation. This target replicates modern subsonic anti-ship cruise
missile threats in support of fleet training, developmental, and
operational testing of major Department of Defense and international
weapon systems. The BQM-177A aerial targets support live-fire test and
evaluation (T&E) events for Aegis, SM-6, SM-2, Rolling Airframe Missile
(RAM), Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile (ESSM), and fleet training events.
The Aegis Weapon System (AWS) follow-on technical support includes
Combat Systems Sea Qualification Trials (CSSQT) test and evaluation
services and software in support of Aegis Weapon System Baseline 9 with
integrated ballistic missile defense.
2. The GQM-163A Coyote is a non-recoverable supersonic sea-skimming
aerial target capable of speeds in excess of Mach 2 with terminal
altitudes from 13 to 66 feet (absolute). As a diving target it has a
maximum altitude of 52,000 feet and diving angles between 15 and 55
degrees. This aerial target replicates a family of supersonic sea-
skimming anti-ship cruise missile threats to meet critical T&E
requirements of Ship Self-Defense Systems (SSDS) and fleet training.
The GQM-163A aerial target supports live-fire T&E events for Aegis, SM-
6, SM-2, RAM, ESSM, and fleet training events.
3. The at-sea CSSQT events provide tracking and live-fire events of
air defense warfare (ADW) (including integrated air and missile defense
(IAMD)), surface warfare (SUW), undersea warfare (USW), electronic
warfare (EW), and command, control, and communications (CCC)).
4. The highest level of classification of defense articles,
components, and services included in this potential sale is SECRET.
5. 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.
6. 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 proposed sale is
necessary in furtherance of the U.S. foreign policy and national
security objectives outlined in the Policy Justification.
7. All defense articles and services listed in this transmittal
have been authorized for release and export to the Government of Japan.
[FR Doc. 2025-22711 Filed 12-12-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6001-FR-P
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