Notice2026-04618

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
March 10, 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 46 (Tuesday, March 10, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 46 (Tuesday, March 10, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11531-11533]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-04618]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Office of the Secretary

[Transmittal No. 26-10]


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#ff8a8d909095d1859e978d9ed19c9689bf929e9693d1929693"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="b3c6c1dcdcd99dc9d2dbc1d29dd0dac5f3ded2dadf9ddedadf">[email&#160;protected]</span></a>, or <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#7a1e09191b541419085408090819171d170e541613090e54191409571718023a171b131654171316"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="17736474763979746539656465747a707a63397b7e6463397479643a7a756f577a767e7b397a7e7b">[email&#160;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 26-
10, Policy Justification, and Sensitivity of Technology.

    Dated: March 5, 2026.
Stephanie J. Bost,
Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.
BILLING CODE 6001-FR-P

[[Page 11532]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN10MR26.133

BILLING CODE 6001-FR-C
Transmittal No. 26-10
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 *...............  $ 0 million
Other...................................  $100.2 million
                                         -------------------------------
  TOTAL.................................  $100.2 million
 

    (iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or 
Services under Consideration for Purchase:

Major Defense Equipment (MDE):
    None
Non-Major Defense Equipment:
    The following non-MDE items will be included: Follow-on technical 
support of Aegis class destroyers, to include Combat Systems Sea 
Qualification Trials (CSSQT); test and evaluation services; sustainment 
support and services; Aegis computer software updates; systems 
integration and testing, in-country and on-site engineering support; 
all necessary emergent engineering and technical support services; 
familiarization, operational support; system overhauls; system 
upgrades; on-the-job practical operations and maintenance; combat 
systems integration; development, testing, and installation of program 
patches; adaptation data and annual service agreements; fielding 
technical inquiries by the purchaser; operational integration and 
maintenance support; field service engineering; problem investigation; 
technical assistance; support solutions to technical problems arising 
from post-production; testing capabilities; supporting United States 
(U.S.) Government contractors and technical engineers; and other 
related elements of logistics and program support.
    (iv) Military Department: Navy (JA-P-QQU)
    (v) Prior Related Cases, if any: JA-P-QCX; JA-P-QEZ; JA-P-QKW; JA-
P-QPI
    (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: December 16, 2025
    * as defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control Act.

POLICY JUSTIFICATION

Japan--Aegis Class Destroyer Support

    The Government of Japan has requested to buy follow-on technical 
support of Aegis class destroyers, including Combat Systems Sea 
Qualification Trials (CSSQT); test and evaluation services; sustainment 
support and services; Aegis computer software updates; systems 
integration

[[Page 11533]]

and testing, in-country and on-site engineering support; all necessary 
emergent engineering and technical support services; familiarization, 
operational support; system overhauls; system upgrades; on-the-job 
practical operations and maintenance; combat systems integration; 
development, testing, and installation of program patches; adaptation 
data and annual service agreements; fielding technical inquiries by the 
purchaser; operational integration and maintenance support; field 
service engineering; problem investigation; technical assistance; 
support solutions to technical problems arising from post-production; 
testing capabilities; supporting U.S. Government contractors and 
technical engineers; and other related elements of logistics and 
program support. The estimated total cost is $100.2 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.
    The proposed sale will improve Japan's capability to meet current 
and future threats by ensuring Japan Maritime Self Defense Force's 
(JMSDF) Aegis fleet remains ready to provide critical capabilities in 
the defense of Japan. Specifically, the requested CSSQT services will 
provide JSMDF with capability support that is vital to the effective 
and safe operations of the Aegis Combat Systems (ACS) suite. Japan 
continues to modernize its fleet to support Integrated Air and Missile 
Defense (IAMD) roles and special mission requirements. The JMSDF Aegis 
Fleet will fulfill Japan's mission goal of acquiring and maintaining 
their Aegis capable ships and will further enhance interoperability 
with the U.S. Navy, build upon a longstanding cooperative effort with 
the U.S., and provide enhanced capability with a valued partner in a 
geographic region of critical importance to Japan and the U.S. 
Government. The Aegis destroyers in Japan's fleet afford greater 
flexibility and capability to counter regional threats and to enhance 
stability in the region. Japan currently operates Aegis ships, is 
proficient at using their evolving ballistic missile defense 
capability, and is effective at employing the AN/SQQ-89A(V)15J undersea 
warfare combat system for undersea surveillance and detection. Japan 
will have no difficulty absorbing these 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 will be Lockheed Martin Corporation, 
located in Moorestown, NJ. 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 Japan.
    There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a 
result of this proposed sale.
Transmittal No. 26-10
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 Aegis Weapon System (AWS) is a multi-mission combat system 
providing Integrated Air and Missile Defense (IAMD) for surface ships. 
The follow-on technical support includes Combat System Ship 
Qualification Trials (CSSQT) test and evaluation (T&E) services, and 
software in support of AWS Baseline 9 with integrated Ballistic Missile 
Defense (BMD).
    2. The CSSQT services for Japan's Aegis System Equipped Vessels 
(ASEV) are critical to ensuring that the Japan Maritime Self Defense 
Force's (JMSDF) Aegis destroyer fleet remains ready to provide critical 
capabilities in the defense of Japan. Specifically, the requested CSSQT 
services provide the JMSDF with capability support vital to the 
effective and safe operations of the Aegis Combat Systems (ACS) suite.
    3. The Aegis CSSQT services facilitate Japan's MSDF's multi-mission 
Aegis destroyers' ability to meet readiness and operational 
requirements to include Ballistic Missile Defense, Air Defense Warfare 
(ADW), surface warfare (SUW), Naval Gun Fire Support (NGFS), Anti-
Submarine Warfare (ASW), and electronic warfare (EW) missions. CSSQT 
includes in-port assessment of shipboard systems, Waterfront 
Integration Testing (WIT), CSSQT-specific training, and installation of 
telemetry and support equipment. It also includes at-sea support of the 
range, target launch/recovery, and boat and aircraft services at Oahu 
Operation Area and Pacific Missile Range Facility (PMRF) in Kauai, 
Hawaii.
    4. The at-sea CSSQT events provide tracking and live-fire events of 
ADW, including IAMD, SUW, Undersea Warfare (USW), EW, and Command, 
Control, and Communications (CCC).
    5. After completing CSSQT events, the USN will analyze data and 
deliver a final report to document system performance during CSSQT. ADW 
live fire events will use Standard Missile SM-2, SM-6, and Enhanced Sea 
Sparrow Missile (ESSM) from JMSDF inventory. SUW and ASW live fire 
events will use JMSDF inventory of gun ammunition and torpedoes.
    6. The CSSQT Services do not provide specific technology to Japan. 
The test scenarios developed are based on the capabilities included in 
the ACS suite.
    7. Japan currently operates eight Aegis destroyers with BMD 
capability. Japan signed a General Security of Military Information 
Agreement (GSOMIA), and continues to make progress in safeguarding 
information. Japan was the first foreign customer to purchase the AWS 
and is the only foreign customer with Aegis BMD capability. Japan has 
scrupulously complied with end use monitoring requirements and there is 
no evidence of physical tampering or compromise of hardware since Japan 
first purchased the AWS in the early 1990s. Japan currently operates, 
maintains, and supports the BMD capability in four Kongo class 
destroyers, two Atago class destroyers, and two Maya class destroyers, 
demonstrating a high level of readiness and proficiency. Japan has 
completed CSSQTs on all previous Aegis equipped ships.
    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 system 
effectiveness or be used in the development of a system with similar or 
advanced capabilities.
    10. A determination has been made that Japan can provide 
substantially the same degree of protection for the sensitive 
technology being released by the U.S. Government. The sale is necessary 
in the 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 Japan.

[FR Doc. 2026-04618 Filed 3-9-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6001-FR-P


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