Cablegate: Netherlands Blue Lantern: Post-Shipment End-Use Check On

VZCZCXYZ0000
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHTC #0252 0741228
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 141228Z MAR 08
FM AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1228
INFO RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 1399
RUEHLI/AMEMBASSY LISBON 0507
RHMFIUU/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC
RHMFIUU/HQ BICE INTEL WASHINGTON DC

UNCLAS THE HAGUE 000252

SIPDIS

STATE FOR PM/DTCC - TWATKINS
USDOC for 532/OEA
USDOC for 3133/USFCS/OIO/JBREIDENSTINE/PBUCHER
USDOC for 4212/USFCS/MAC/EUR/OWE/DCALVERT

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETTC KOMC FR NL
SUBJECT: Netherlands Blue Lantern: Post-Shipment End-Use Check on
License 050061621

REF: STATE 10193

SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED; PLEASE HANDLE ACCORDINGLY.

1. (U) SUMMARY: Post verified AD-S' role as a foreign intermediary
for the French Air Force (FAF) and the company appeared to be a
responsible recipient of USML items. END SUMMARY.

2. (SBU) Emboffs met with Peter de Smalen, Director, AD-S on March 3
to conduct reftel post-shipment verification and site visit in
relation to the export of a large quantity of C-130 spare parts to
the FAF. AD-S is a subsidiary of Avio-Diepen, an independent
distributor in the aerospace industry. Avio-Diepen acquired the
AD-S business in November 2006. De Smalen explained that AD-S' core
activity is brokering military aviation spare parts and it is one of
the Netherlands' leading independent traders in this sector. For
the purpose of comparison, he mentioned Derco Aerospace and
Kellstrom Industries (both U.S. companies) as competitors. De
Smalen said that AD-S' revenue in 2007 was approximately 12 million
Euros and it had ten full-time employees. He said that AD-S focuses
its sales efforts on a short list of about ten established
customers, including the Dutch Armed Forces, NAMSA (NATO's
centralized procurement arm), OGMA (Industria Aeronautica de
Portugal), the Portuguese Air Force, the FAF, the Singapore Air
Force, and Singapore Technologies (ST Engineering).

3. (SBU) Regarding license 050061621 for the export of C-130
aircraft spare parts to the FAF, de Smalen said that AD-S had won a
tender to supply the parts and was sourcing them from R.S. Aviation
in Florida. He said that, to date, AD-S had only supplied parts
totalling several thousand dollars but that R.S. Aviation had
suggested obtaining a blanket license for USD 2 million to cover
present and future shipments to the FAF. De Smalen provided Emboffs
with purchase orders, invoices, and contracts for R.S. Aviation,
AD-S, and OGMA (the foreign consignee for the FAF parts). Post can
provide copies upon request.

4. (U) De Smalen assured Emboffs that every employee at AD-S takes
license compliance very seriously. He appeared to have a firm
understanding of the obligations associated with the export license.
Emboff interactions with de Smalen were cordial and professional.

Gallagher

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