Cablegate: Air Bridge Denial: May 2008 Program Update

VZCZCXYZ0007
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHBO #2097 1622058
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 102058Z JUN 08
FM AMEMBASSY BOGOTA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3118
INFO RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
RHEHOND/DIRONDCP WASHDC
RUEAWJC/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHDC
RHMCSUU/DEPT OF HOMELAND SECURITY WASHINGTON DC//ICE/CNO//
RHMFISS/CDR USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC
RUMIJTF/DIRJIATF SOUTH KEY WEST FL

UNCLAS BOGOTA 002097

SIPDIS
SENSITIVE

DEPARTMENT FOR INL/LP

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SNAR PREL MOPS MASS PGOV CO
SUBJECT: AIR BRIDGE DENIAL: MAY 2008 PROGRAM UPDATE

REF: 2003 STATE 265910

1. (U) SUMMARY. This is the monthly Air Bridge Denial (ABD)
activity report for May, 2008, as required by Reftel. The
Government of Colombia (GOC) sorted 6,543 tracks during April. Four
were Unknown, Assumed Suspect (UAS). There were no Phase I/II/III
events during the month. END SUMMARY.

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Tracks
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2. (SBU) In April 2008, 6,859 tracks were sorted over Colombia, and
four were declared UAS aircraft. One of these was visually
identified in international airspace over the Caribbean Sea and
information was passed on to Central American countries. Colombian
National Police met one upon landing and inspected the aircraft and
found no illegal items. Host Nation responded to the other two but
the tracker aircraft was unable to locate the aircraft.

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Flight Operations
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3. (SBU) In May 2008, the Citations flew 196 hours in 83 sorties
with an Operational Readiness (OR) rate of 62 percent. Of the 83
sorties, 49 were for GOC ABD intelligence gathering and patrolling;
five for training; twelve were for operational support; 10 were for
maritime patrolling; and seven were in reaction to GOC-provided
information. The SR-26 aircraft 5741 flew 47 hours in 21 sorties
with a 61% OR rate. Sixteen SR-26 sorties were in support of ABD,
of which eight were maritime missions. Five sorties were for
non-ABD purposes. SR-26 tail number 5742 is still out of commission
after a ground mishap.

BROWNFIELD

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