Cablegate: Blue Lantern Case Ag-1003-97: Check On Boeing a-4

This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

UNCLAS WELLINGTON 000833

SIPDIS

STATE FOR PM/DTCC-PDADE AND EAP/ANP-DRICCI

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETTC KOMC NZ ID US
SUBJECT: BLUE LANTERN CASE AG-1003-97: CHECK ON BOEING A-4
SERVICE AGREEMENT WITH NEW ZEALAND FIRM SAFE AIR LIMITED

REF: STATE 191598

1. Safe Air Limited of Marlborough, New Zealand, reported
October 26 that it has no record of being informed by
Boeing/McDonnell-Douglas that it should cease servicing
Indonesian Air Force A-4s in 1999. However, the company says
it was well aware of the arms embargo against Indonesia and
complied with it.

2. Safe Air Limited said it last serviced A-4 jet fighters
for Indonesia in 1999. Under the Manufacturing License
Agreement No. AG-1003-97 from McDonnell-Douglas Corporation
(now Boeing), Safe Air overhauled two A-4s that the
Indonesian military purchased in 1996 from the U.S.
government. After refurbishing the A-4s, Safe Air shipped
them to Indonesia, where they were delivered to the
Indonesian Air Force in October 1999. The cost of the
overhaul was US $8 million. Safe Air Limited said it has not
worked on those aircraft since then or on any others for the
Indonesian Air Force.
Burnett

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