URC-119 RADIO REQUEST FOR GUATEMALAN MILITARY

UNCLAS GUATEMALA 000073

SIPDIS

STATE FOR WHA/CEN, WHA/PPC, PM/B, DEFENSE FOR CHAIRS,
USDP-DSCA, JOINT STAFF FOR J-5

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: MARR MASS MCAP PREL GT
SUBJECT: URC-119 RADIO REQUEST FOR GUATEMALAN MILITARY


1. Summary and Action Request: Embassy requests State
Department and Defense Security Cooperation Agency
concurrence to transfer one URC - 119 High Frequency Radio
set to the Guatemalan Military through the Excess Defense
Articles Program. The radio's purpose is to enhance natural
disaster response capabilities by upgrading and better
integrating regional communications. After careful
consideration, Post has concluded that the benefits of this
particular transfer outweigh reservations about Guatemalan
military performance on key issues. End Summary.


2. The proposed transfer is part of a region-wide upgrade
aimed at providing an Automatic Link Establishment (ALE)
capability to the High Frequency Radio network used by the
System of Cooperation Among the American Air Forces
(SICOFAA). ALE-capable equipment continuously assesses and
adjusts the quality of HF radio links allowing them to be
reliably used for digital data transfers. Guatemala and
Nicaragua are the only countries in the SICOFAA system
without ALE capable HF radios. Post understands that an URC
- 119 radio has been approved for Nicaragua. Providing the
same ALE-capable radio to the Guatemalan Military would
significantly enhance the ability of the U.S. Air Force to
communicate and coordinate with the Guatemalan Air Force in
the event of a large-scale natural disaster. The radio is
not well-suited for communications within Guatemala and the
possibility that it could be used for purposes other than
intended is remote.


3. Under current sanctions, EDA is available to Guatemala on
a case-by-case basis. The last EDA transfer to Guatemala
occurred in 1997 and consisted of medical supplies worth 525
thousand USD. The value of the proposed radio transfer is
9,404 USD, broken down as follows:

AM-7223 Amplifier $2,269
RF-7210A ALE (Controller) $3,093
RT-1446 Radio $4,042.

The antenna set that is normally included in a complete URC -
119, will not be part of the proposed transfer as the
Guatemalan Air Force already has a suitable set in its
inventory.


4. The above equipment is already physically located in
Guatemala. It was used to provide a demonstration of ALE
capabilities during the Chiefs of American Air Forces
Conference (CONJEFAMER) held in Guatemalan on May 21, 2002,
and is currently being stored by the MilGroup Commander.


5. Comment and Action Request: Post carefully considered the
risk of sending mixed signals to the Guatemalan Military
before deciding to go forward with the request for
authorization to make the transfer. Guatemala's significant
exposure to natural disasters and its geographic proximity to
the U.S. argue for USG efforts to mitigate such disasters
wherever it can be done in ways that do not violate other US
interests. The proposed transfer is not precedent-setting as
EDA assistance has been provided to the Guatemalan Military
in recent years. The chance that this system could be used
for purposes other than enhanced regional communication is
negligible. The cost of the proposed transfer is quite small
and the equipment is already in country. Based on these
points, Post requests Department approval to transfer this
equipment to thet Guatemalan Military. Please advise.
Hamilton