VZCZCXYZ0007
PP RUEHWEB
DE RUEHMO #4267 2420953
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 300953Z AUG 07
FM AMEMBASSY MOSCOW
TO RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC PRIORITY
INFO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3437
RUEAORC/USCBP WASHDC
RHMFIUU/HQ BICE WASHINGTON DC
UNCLAS MOSCOW 004267
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
USDOC FOR 532/OEA/MHAMES/LRITTER
USDOC FOR 3150/USFCS/OIO/CEENIS/MCOSTA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: BEXP ETRD ETTC RS
SUBJECT: EXTRANCHECK: PRE-LICENSE CHECK: SPECIAL
PURPOSE CENTER OF FSB, MOSCOW, RUSSIA, D379757
REFTEL: USDOC
1. Unauthorized disclosure of the information provided
below is prohibited by Section 12C of the Export
Administration Act.
2. Reftel requested a Pre-license check to determine
the legitimacy and reliability of the end-user,
Special Purpose Center of FSB, Moscow, Russia. The
company is listed on BIS license application D379757
as the ultimate consignee of eight thermal imaging
cameras. These items are controlled for national
security and nuclear non-proliferation reasons under
ECCN 6A003. The licensee is L3 Communications Infrared
Products, 13532 N.Centeral Expressway MS37, Dallas, TX
75243.
3. On August 15, 2007, Export Control Attache Donald
Pearce and FSN Natalya Shipitsina conducted a pre-
license check at the International Relations Center of
the Federal Security Service (Russian acronym FSB), 7
Izmailovsky Val, Building 1, Moscow, Russia. The
export control team met with Dmitry Gruzkov, Officer
of the FSB Arms Service, and Yury Patrin, FSB Officer,
International Relations Department.
4. The FSB is the principal federal criminal and
counterintelligence investigative organization of the
Russian Federation. The FSB is charged with the
operation of several specialized units which are
active in antiterrorist operations throughout Russia.
The Special Purpose Center (SPC) was founded in 1992
to support the hostage rescue and antiterrorist teams
known as "Alfa" and "Vympel" by providing equipment
and training for the team's operators. SPC is
participating in cooperative training programs with
the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Academy and
its Hostage Rescue Team (HRT). The program is a "Top-
Down" concept, with senior management at FSB and the
FBI Academy working alongside HRT and Alfa/Vympel
operators as they compare experiences and establish
best practices for hostage rescue situations. SPC
employs around 20 specialists, and is posted at the
FSB headquarters in Moscow.
5. SPC chose the L3 product for procurement due to its
high quality and superior level of technology over
other similar units. Its capabilities and size make
it an excellent unit for close-quarters situations.
Sixteen operators will be trained in the use of the
cameras, with six cameras being in an operationally
ready state at all times and two in reserve. All high
technology equipment is stored at the FSB
headquarters, in a specialized equipment locker
designed for storage of weapons at SPC. The storage
area is under 24 hour guard, and is protected by an
electronic alarm and video surveillance system. Mr.
Gruzkov is familiar with the anticipated conditions of
the license, and noted that although Alfa units
sometimes deploy outside of Russia, that the thermal
imagers will not be exported outside of Russia at any
time.
6. Recommendations: Post recommends Special Purpose
Center of FSB, Moscow, Russia, as a reliable recipient
of sensitive U.S. origin commodities. It is requested
that post be notified of final disposition of the
application, and of any shipments for this
organization in order to conduct appropriate FCS
follow-up and statistical reporting.
(FCS MOSCOW/SBOZEK/DPEARCE)
BURNS