INDEPENDENT NEWS

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

Published: Thu 13 Mar 2008 01:32 PM
VZCZCXYZ0001
PP RUEHWEB
DE RUEHAK #0495 0731332
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 131332Z MAR 08
FM AMEMBASSY ANKARA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5579
INFO RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEPINS/HQ BICE INTEL WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEHAK/USDAO ANKARA TU PRIORITY
RUEUITH/ODC ANKARA TU PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
UNCLAS ANKARA 000495
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR PM/DTCC - BLUE LANTERN COORDINATOR
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EG ETTC KOMC TU
SUBJECT: BLUE LANTERN LEVEL 3: POST-SHIPMENT END-USE CHECK
ON LICENSE 050064457
REF: SECSTATE 8861
1. We met with Aselsan (Full name Aselsan Electronics
Industries Inc.) Purchasing Manager Ahmet Arpaozu on March 4
regarding reftel case (license number 050064457). Arpaozu
relayed our questions to the production and project managers,
with whom we also met on site. They confirmed Aselsan's
order of 368 NVIS LED components at a cost of approximately
60 USD per unit.
2. Arpaozu provided documentation showing Aselsan received
the 368 NSIV LED Assembly (P/N 0728-48A) on October 4, 2007.
Aselsan confirmed that it has purchased the LEDs for use in
the F-4 aircraft, as a component on the MXF-484 VHF/UHF
remote mount radio. Aselsan representatives informed us this
is an ongoing contract, which is why different units are in
various stages of production, storage, or shipment. Some are
being stored at Aselsan warehouse facilities, some are being
integrated in the remote mount radios at the Aselsan plant,
while others have already been shipped to the end user, the
Turkish Armed Forces, as a part of completed remote mount
radio units. During our visit to Aselsan's headquarters and
assembly plant, we saw a worker place one of the LED units
into a partially-built remote mount radio. We were also
informed a number of units were already in Eskisehir with the
Turkish Armed Forces and that Aselsan is not responsible for
installing them into the F-4 aircraft.
3. Col. Aydogdu from the Turkish Air Force confirmed the use
of the NSIV LED Assembly as a component on the MXF-484
VHF/UHF remote mount radio to be installed on the F-4
aircraft. He assured us the LED component was only to be
used on Turkish planes and was not for re-export. He
confirmed the installation of the LED on the radio was the
responsibility of Aselsan, while the installation of the
radio onto the F-4 was done by the Turkish Air Force. Col.
Aydogdu also said that so far, the Turkish Air Force has
received 76 units from Aselsan.
4. Members of the Aselsan staff with whom we met were
forthcoming and cooperative in response to our inquiries.
Based on our meeting with Aselsan representatives, who fully
answered all of our questions, we believe that the items are
being used for the purposes stated in the license.
Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at
http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/Portal:Turk ey
WILSON
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