Arms Sales Notification

Issuing agencies

Abstract

The DoD (referred to herein as "the Department," "Department of War" or "DoW") is publishing the unclassified text of an arms sales notification.

Full Text

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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 200 (Monday, October 19, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 66115-66116]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-21343]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Office of the Secretary

[Transmittal No. 26-93]


Arms Sales Notification

AGENCY: Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA), Department of 
Defense (DoD).

ACTION: Arms sales notice.

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SUMMARY: The DoD (referred to herein as ``the Department,'' 
``Department of War'' or ``DoW'') is publishing the unclassified text 
of an arms sales notification.

[[Page 66116]]


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Urooj Zahra at (703) 695-6233, 
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#4035322f2f2a6e3a212832216e232936002d21292c6e2d292c"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="1560677a7a7f3b6f747d67743b767c635578747c793b787c79">[email&#160;protected]</span></a>, or <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#f490879795da9a9786da8687869799939980da989d8780da979a87d999968cb499959d98da999d98"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="2a4e59494b044449580458595849474d475e044643595e04494459074748526a474b434604474346">[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 the attached 
Transmittal 26-93, Policy Justification, and Sensitivity of Technology.

    Dated: October 15, 2026.
Stephanie J. Bost,
Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.
Transmittal No. 26-93
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 Spain
    (ii) Total Estimated Value:

Major Defense Equipment *................  $27 million
Other....................................  $48 million
                                          ------------------------------
  TOTAL..................................  $75 million
 

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

Major Defense Equipment (MDE):
    Seven (7) Sonar, Mine Hunting, AN/SQQ-32(V)3+ upgrade kits
Non-MDE:
    The following non-MDE items will also be included: towed body 
parts; support equipment; spare parts, consumables, and accessories; 
unclassified operation and maintenance software; unclassified 
publications, technical documentation; and studies and surveys; U.S. 
government and contractor engineering, technical, and logistics support 
services; and other related elements of logistics and program support.

    (iv) Military Department: Navy (SP-P-LIM)
    (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: September 16, 2026
    * as defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control Act.

POLICY JUSTIFICATION

Spain--Sonar Upgrade Kits

    The Government of Spain has requested to buy seven (7) Sonar, Mine 
Hunting, AN/SQQ-32(V)3+ upgrade kits. The following non-MDE items will 
also be included: towed body parts; support equipment; spare parts, 
consumables, and accessories; unclassified operation and maintenance 
software; unclassified publications, technical documentation; and 
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 $75 
million.
    This proposed sale will support the foreign policy goals and 
national security objectives of the United States 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 Spain's capability to meet current 
and future threats by providing an advanced and reliable sonar system, 
enhancing its ability to detect, classify, and neutralize underwater 
threats. This modernization prevents a capability gap in Spain's Mine 
Countermeasure forces and ensures continued contribution to NATO 
maritime security operations. Spain will have no difficulty absorbing 
these articles and services into its armed forces.
    The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the 
basic military balance in the region.
    There is no principal contractor in connection with this sale. The 
articles and support will be provided by the Naval Surface Warfare 
Center, located in Panama City, FL. At this time, the U.S. Government 
is not aware of any offset agreement 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 Spain.
    There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a 
result of this proposed sale.
Transmittal No. 26-93
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 AN/SQQ-32 sonar is a variable-depth mine-hunting sonar 
system designed for detecting and classifying moored and bottom mines 
in mine countermeasure operations. It includes two separate active 
sonar systems to detect and classify mine-like objects on the surface 
in the volume or on the bottom of the sea. The sonar systems are 
packaged in a single towed body tethered to the ship through a cable 
providing power and data transmission with the cable length variable 
via an electric winch.
    2. The detect and classify sonar subsystems are independently 
monitored and controlled by two operators at independent panels working 
together to find and characterize underwater objects as mine or non-
mine like objects. The detection system is a low frequency, low 
resolution, high range sonar designed to provide a general location of 
possible mine-like objects. It provides much greater range than the 
classify sonar system, but provides little resolution and detail of the 
objects it detects. The classify sonar has a lower range, but higher 
frequency and higher resolution, allowing the classification of a 
target as mine-like or non-mine-like.
    3. The highest level of classification of defense articles, 
components, and services included in this potential sale is SECRET.
    4. 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.
    5. A determination has been made that Spain 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.
    6. All defense articles and services listed in this transmittal 
have been authorized for release and export to the Government of Spain.

[FR Doc. 2026-21343 Filed 10-16-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6001-FR-P


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