Notice2026-01481
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
January 27, 2026
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 91 Issue 17 (Tuesday, January 27, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 17 (Tuesday, January 27, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3475-3476]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-01481]
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Office of the Secretary
[Transmittal No. 25-55]
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#7104031e1e1b5f0b101903105f121807311c10181d5f1c181d"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="27525548484d095d464f554609444e51674a464e4b094a4e4b">[email protected]</span></a>, or <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#a1c5d2c2c08fcfc2d38fd3d2d3c2ccc6ccd58fcdc8d2d58fc2cfd28cccc3d9e1ccc0c8cd8fccc8cd"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="4a2e39292b642429386438393829272d273e642623393e64292439672728320a272b232664272326">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This 36(b) 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 25-
55, Policy Justification, and Sensitivity of Technology.
Dated: January 22, 2026.
Stephanie J. Bost,
Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.
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[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN27JA26.008
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Transmittal No. 25-55
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: NATO Support and Procurement Agency
(NSPA) as Agent for Belgium, Italy, and Romania
(ii) Total Estimated Value:
Major Defense Equipment *............... $ 74.1 million
Other................................... $ 29.8 million
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TOTAL................................. $103.9 million
[[Page 3476]]
Funding Source: National Funds
(iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or
Services under Consideration for Purchase:
Major Defense Equipment (MDE):
Up to ninety-six (96) AIM-9X Sidewinder Block II or Block II+
tactical missiles (Belgium: 8; Italy: 24; Romania: 64)
Twelve (12) AIM-9X Block II or Block II+ tactical guidance units
(Romania)
Non-Major Defense Equipment:
The following non-MDE items will also be included: missile
containers; United States (U.S.) Government engineering, technical,
training, and logistics support services; classified and unclassified
publications and technical documents; and other related elements of
logistics and program support.
(iv) Military Department: Navy (W7-P-AAD)
(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: August 27, 2025
* as defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control Act.
POLICY JUSTIFICATION
NATO Support and Procurement Agency--AIM-9X Sidewinder Missiles
The NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA), as Agent for
Belgium, Italy, and Romania, has requested to buy up to ninety-six (96)
AIM-9X Sidewinder Block II or Block II+ tactical missiles (Belgium: 8;
Italy: 24; Romania: 64) and twelve (12) AIM-9X Block II or Block II+
tactical guidance units (Romania). The following non-MDE items will
also be included: missile containers; U.S. Government engineering,
technical, training, and logistics support services; classified and
unclassified publications and technical documents; and other related
elements of logistics and program support. The estimated total cost is
$103.9 million.
This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national
security objectives of the U.S. by improving the security of NATO
Allies that are a force for political stability and economic progress
in the North Atlantic region.
The proposed sale will improve NATO's capability to meet current
and future threats by utilizing air-to-air missiles and guidance units
for its F-35 fleets in support of NATO's defense mission. NATO will
have no difficulty absorbing these weapons 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 RTX Corporation, located in
Arlington, VA. At this time, the U.S. Government is not aware of any
offset agreement proposed in connection with this potential sale. Any
offset agreement will be defined in negotiations between the purchaser
and the contractor.
Implementation of this proposed sale will not require the
assignment of any additional U.S. Government or contractor
representatives to NATO, however, U.S. Government engineering and
technical services may be required on an interim basis for technical
assistance.
There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a
result of this proposed sale.
Transmittal No. 25-55
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 AIM-9X Sidewinder Block II and Block II+ (Plus) missiles
represent a substantial increase in missile acquisition and kinematics
performance over the AIM-9M and replace the AIM-9X Block I missile
configuration. The missiles include a high off-boresight seeker,
enhanced countermeasure rejection capability, low drag/high angle of
attack airframe, and the ability to integrate the Helmet Mounted Cueing
System. The software algorithms are the most sensitive portion of the
AIM-9X missile. The software continues to be modified via a pre-planned
product improvement (P\3\I) program to improve its counter-
countermeasure capabilities. The most current AIM-9X Block II/II+
Operational Flight Software, developed for all international partner
countries and authorized for export by U.S. Government policy, provides
fifth-generation infrared missile capabilities such as Lock-On-After-
Launch, Weapons Data Link, surface attack, and surface launch. No
software source code or algorithms will be released.
2. The highest level of classification of defense articles,
components, and services included in this potential sale is SECRET.
3. 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 system
effectiveness or be used in the development of a system with similar or
advanced capabilities.
4. A determination has been made that NATO 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.
5. All defense articles and services listed in this transmittal
have been authorized for release and export to NATO.
[FR Doc. 2026-01481 Filed 1-26-26; 8:45 am]
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