https://www.federalregister.gov/article ... tificationhttps://s3.amazonaws.com/public-inspect ... -15988.pdfTransmittal No. 12-28
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 M1A1 Abrams Tanks components considered to contain sensitive
technology in the proposed program are as follows:
a.
The M1A1 Thermal Imaging System (TIS) 2nd Gen Forward Looking
Infrared (FLIR) constitutes a target acquisition system which, when operated with other
tank systems, gives the tank crew a substantial advantage over the potential threat. The
TIS provides the M1A1 crew with the ability to effectively aim and fire the tank main
armament system under a broad range of adverse battlefield conditions. The hardware
itself is Unclassified. The engineering design and manufacturing data associated with the
detector and infrared (IR) optics and coatings are considered sensitive.
The technical
data package is Unclassified with the exception of the specifications for target acquisition
range (Confidential), nuclear hardening (Confidential, restricted data) and laser
hardening (Secret).b.
The M1A1 Tank Special Armor and other special armors used in the hull
and turret are classified at the Secret level. Major components of Special Armor are
fabricated in sealed modules and in serialized removable subassemblies.
Special
Armor components and associated vulnerability data for both chemical and kinetic
energy rounds are classified Secret.c.
The use of the Advanced Gas Turbine-1500 (AGT-1500) Gas Turbine
Propulsion System in the MlA1 is a unique application of armored vehicle power
pack technology. The hardware is composed of the
AGT-1500 engine and
transmission, and is Unclassified. Manufacturing processes associated with the
production of turbine blades, recuperator, bearings and shafts, and hydrostatic pump
and motor, are proprietary and therefore commercially competition sensitive.
d. A major survivability feature of the Abrams Tank is the
compartmentalization of fuel and ammunition.
Compartmentalization is the positive
separation of the crew and critical components from combustible materials. In the event
that the fuel or ammunition is ignited or deteriorated by an incoming threat round, the
crew is fully protected by the compartmentalization. Sensitive information includes the
performance of the ammunition compartments as well as the compartment design
parameters.2. If a technologically advanced adversary were to obtain knowledge of the
specific hardware and software elements, the information could be used to develop
countermeasures or equivalent systems which might reduce weapon system effectiveness
or be used in the development of a system with similar or advanced capabilities.