VZCZCXYZ0000
RR RUEHWEB
DE RUEHBU #1197 2391814
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 261814Z AUG 08 ZDK
FM AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 1881
C O N F I D E N T I A L BUENOS AIRES 001197
SIPDIS
ISN FOR D. MAHLEY AND P. DURHAM
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/26/2018
TAGS: KSCA PARM PREL ETTC
SUBJECT: ARGENTINE SPACE AGENCY DESIRE TO INCLUDE
BRAZILIAN-UKRAINIAN JOINT VENTURE IN END-USER REQUEST FOR
ARGENTINE SAOCOM SATELLITE MISSION
REF: NONE
Classified By: DCM Thomas P. Kelly, for reasons 1.4 (c) and (d).
1. (C) On 01 August, Executive Director of the National
Commission on Aerospace Activities (CONAE), Dr. Conrado
Varotto and CONAE Secretary General Felix Menicocci, made a
request to broaden the scope of an existing End-User request
related to the Argentine SAOCOM satellite project. Per
Varotto, the GOA had drafted the text for an open tender
which conformed to existing International Trade in Arms
Regulations (ITAR) standards with regard to the use of
U.S.-made components in the SAOCOM satellite system. At the
time of the original draft, the GOA did not take into account
the possible use of the Ukrainian Cyclone-4 launch vehicle or
the use of the Brazilian launch facilities at Alcantara.
2. (C) To allow the joint Brazilian-Ukrainian venture,
Alcantara Cyclone Space, to compete in the Argentine SAOCOM
project, the GOA has proposed changes in the text of their
original End-User request. Varotto believed the updated text
will permit the sale of U.S. components to the GOA for use in
SAOCOM, and will account for the possible participation of
Alcantara Cyclone Space in an eventual launch. Varotto
expressed his interest in traveling to Washington to discuss
the details with relevant Department officials.
WAYNE