Cablegate: Blue Lantern Level 3: Post-Shipment End Use Check
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Tim W Hayes 06/29/2006 02:44:21 PM From DB/Inbox: Tim W Hayes
Cable
Text:
UNCLAS ANKARA 03784
SIPDIS
CX:
ACTION: PMA
INFO: FCS CONS AMB POL DCM DAO RAO ECON TSR PA
DISSEMINATION: PMA /1
CHARGE: PROG
APPROVED: PMA:MNARDI
DRAFTED: PMA:WPINKSTON
CLEARED: PMA:MNARDI
VZCZCAYI975
PP RUEHC RUEUITH RUEHAK RUEKJCS
DE RUEHAK #3784 1791310
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 281310Z JUN 06
FM AMEMBASSY ANKARA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6895
INFO RUEUITH/ODC ANKARA TU PRIORITY
RUEHAK/USDAO ANKARA TU PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC//USDP:PDUSDP/ISA:EUR/ISA:NESA/DSCA// PRIORITY
UNCLAS ANKARA 003784
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/SE AND PM/DTTC
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETTC KOMC TU
SUBJECT: BLUE LANTERN LEVEL 3: POST-SHIPMENT END USE CHECK
OF LICENSES 05-952140, 05-935458, AND 05-949858
REF: A. SECSTATE 77031
B. SECSTATE 77034
1. SUMMARY: We met with an official from ASELSAN to discuss
license numbers 05-952140, 05-935458, and 05-949858 per
reftels, and confirmed the orders and the end users. End
Summary.
2. During a June 6, 2006 meeting at the ASELSAN HQS building
on the outskirts of Ankara, ASELSAN Program Manager Burce
KARABAY was forthcoming about their ongoing contracts.
Karabay chaired the meeting and answered most of our
questions. Regarding license no. 05-935458, Karabay said
ASELSAN had received most of the Raytheon 27 W1000 Thermal
Weapons Sights kits and most of the 27 chopper assemblies,
but that ASELSAN had purchased only six of the eight
categories of components. Karabay claimed that ASELSAN
decided not to purchase "Lens no. 1, 3 (3181053)" and "Lens
no. 2, 9 (3181057)" components due to their cost, noting that
an unspecified Turkish firm was able to manufacture lenses of
sufficient quality similar to these lenses. Karabay said
that none of Raytheon's thermal weapons sights have yet been
exported to other countries. He did remark that ASELSAN had
received permission from Raytheon and the USG to export its
own kits to Georgia, and that ASELSAN was awaiting approval
on the export of other kits to Bulgaria but was awaiting
final approval from the USG. Karabay said that the kits
exported to Georgia, and those proposed for sale to Bulgaria,
were manufactured by ASELSAN but would consist of
second-generation technology.
3. Regarding the 600 casings (license 05-949858), Karabay
said ASELSAN is no longer using the US firm Howmet Castings
Bethlehem. He claimed that ASELSAN had tired of Howmet's
delivery delays and had switched to use an unspecified
Turkish subcontractor.
4. Regarding license 05-952140, the export of M929 aviator
night vision goggle spare parts and components. Karabay said
that the MOD had ordered 45 sets of goggles for Turkish Naval
and Coast Guard forces and that eight had been delivered thus
far. Karabay said the remaining 37 sets were expected in
April 2007 due to delays from the US supplier, ITT Industries
Night Vision company based in Roanoke, Virginia. Karabay
complained extensively about the delays in the supply of the
night vision equipment in accordance with US regulation.
5. Based on the site visit, the meeting with the ASELSAN
official, and the follow-on information provided, ASELSAN
appears to be properly using the W1000 Thermal Weapons Sights
kits and the M929 aviator night vision goggles.
Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/
WILSON