Cablegate: Blue Lantern Level 3: Post-Shipment End-Use Check

VZCZCXYZ0001
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHPG #0066 0360938
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 050938Z FEB 10
FM AMEMBASSY PRAGUE
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 2118

UNCLAS PRAGUE 000066

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR PM/DTCC - BLUE LANTERN COORDINATOR

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KOMC ETTC EZ
SUBJECT: BLUE LANTERN LEVEL 3: POST-SHIPMENT END-USE CHECK
ON LICENSE 050171250

REF: 09 STATE 115801

1. (SBU) In response to reftel, Poloff conducted a site
visit of the Czech Police Aviation Department's (CPAD)
facilities at Prague's Ruzyne International Airport to verify
the serial numbers of nine (9) M949 night vision aviator's
goggles (NVG), determine the adequacy of the security
measures for their storage, and confirm the purposes for
which they are being used.

2. (SBU) CPAD Director Mr. Vladimir Panenka (listed in
reftel as the end-user) and his Director of Maintenance, Mr.
Tomas Jirman, welcomed the visit, indicating that they
understood when arranging the purchase of the NVGs that
approval of the sale was contingent upon their agreement to
submit to periodic inspection by a U.S. Government
representative.

3. (SBU) CPAD's facilities are located within a controlled
access area whose access points, when not entirely closed,
are guarded 24/7 by the Czech National Police and under
remote video surveillance. The entrance to CPAD's building
is likewise controlled 24/7 by a member of the Czech National
Police. Six of the nine NVGs are stored in a lockable
equipment cabinet within a limited access maintenance area
that is manned 24/7. The three remaining NVGs -- one for
each member of a potential aircrew -- are stored in this same
area in indiviual kit bags on an easily visible "ready" shelf
next to an equipment sign-out log that is used for inventory
control. All personnel having access to the maintenance area
or utilizing the NVGs have secret-level national security
clearances.

4. (SBU) CPAD uses the NVGs for a wide range of
helicopter-borne (EC 135 and Bell 412) training and
operational missions, including drug interdiction,
counterterrorism, general law enforcement surveillance,
search and rescue, and medical evacuation.

5. (SBU) Serial numbers of the NVGs on hand at CPAD and
inventoried by Poloff: 50600, 50601, 50602, 50603, 50604,
50605, 50606, 50607, and 50608.
Thompson-Jones

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