SLOVAK MOD INTERESTED IN C-130 TRANSPORT AIRCRAFT

UNCLAS BRATISLAVA 000175

SIPDIS


SENSITIVE

NSC FOR DAMON WILSON
DIA FOR LARRY CARTWRIGHT
OSD FOR JOEL CASSMAN
JCS FOR BRAD MITCHELL

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: MARR PREL PGOV ECON LO MILITARY
SUBJECT: SLOVAK MOD INTERESTED IN C-130 TRANSPORT AIRCRAFT



1. (SBU) THE AMBASSADOR CONSULTED WITH MINISTER OF DEFENSE
LISKA AND CHIEF OF THE GENERAL STAFF CEROVSKY ON 5 FEBRUARY
AND 10 FEBRUARY, RESPECTIVELY, TO DISCUSS SLOVAK INTEREST IN
ACQUIRING A NUMBER OF C-130 MEDIUM TRANSPORT AIRCRAFT. BOTH
LISKA AND CEROVSKY EXPRESSED INTEREST IN THE AMBASSADOR'S
SUGGESTION THAT THE SLOVAKS ACQUIRE 4 TO 6 C-130E TRANSPORT
AIRCRAFT (WHICH ARE BEING REPLACED IN THE US AIR FORCE FLEET
BY THE MODERNIZED C-130J, BEGINNING AROUND 2005-2006) UNDER
THE EXCESS DEFENSE ARTICLES PROGRAM. UPGRADES TO THE
AIRCRAFT ACQUIRED WOULD BE PAID FOR OUT OF THE SLOVAK
DEFENSE BUDGET. AS A CONSEQUENCE, THE AMBASSADOR ADVISED
DEFENSE OFFICIALS TO CAREFULLY CONSIDER THE FINANCIAL IMPACT
OF THIS ACQUISITION.


2. (SBU) THE ACQUISITION OF THIS TYPE OF AIRCRAFT HAS
THREE MAIN BENEFITS TO THE SLOVAK ARMED FORCES. FIRST, IT
WOULD PROVIDE THE CAPABILITY TO SELF-DEPLOY ITS FORCES TO
NATO AND OTHER COALITION OPERATIONS, ELIMINATING THE NEED TO
SECURE CONTRACT STRATEGIC LIFT FROM OTHER COUNTRIES, SUCH AS
UKRAINE OR RUSSIA. SECOND, SLOVAKIA WOULD BE ABLE TO OFFER
THEATER LIFT ASSETS TO NATO OR COALITION OPERATIONS, THUS
DEVELOPING A SORELY NEEDED NATO NICHE CAPABILITY. FINALLY,
THERE IS THE POSSIBILITY FOR SLOVAKIA TO CONTRACT ITS
THEATER LIFT TO OTHER NATIONS IN THE REGION, WHICH
REPRESENTS A POTENTIAL SOURCE OF REVENUE AS WELL AS PRESTIGE
IN THE REGION. FURTHERMORE, THE SLOVAKS MAY WELL CONSIDER
ATTEMPTING TO ATTRACT INVESTMENT IN REPAIR FACILITIES
LOCATED AT THE LETECKE OPRAVOVNE TRENCIN (AIRCRAFT REPAIR
COMPANY TRENCIN) WITH THE GOAL OF DEVELOPING A REGION DEPOT-
LEVEL MAINTENANCE FACILITY IN TRENCIN.


3. (SBU) A RECENTLY PUBLISHED STUDY ON THE FUTURE OF THE
SLOVAK AIR FORCE RECOMMENDED THE ACQUISITION OF AT LEAST TWO
MODERN TRANSPORT AIRCRAFT BY THE YEAR 2010, ALTHOUGH NO SUCH
PLANS HAD BEEN MADE IN THE SLOVAKS' DEFENSE REFORM PLAN

2010. DURING AN OFFICIAL VISIT TO SLOVAKIA BY SUPREME
ALLIED COMMANDER EUROPE (SACEUR),CHIEF OF THE GENERAL STAFF
CEROVKSY DISCUSSED THE C-130 AS A POSSIBLE NICHE CAPABILITY
FOR SLOVAKIA. GEN JONES CONFIRMED THAT LIFT WAS PERHAPS THE
MOST IMPORTANT NEED FOR NATO FORCES AND RECOMMENDED THAT THE
SLOVAKS SERIOUSLY CONSIDER ADDING THIS ACQUISITION TO THEIR
PLANS.


4. (SBU) SLOVAK DEFENSE OFFICIALS ARE CAREFULLY EVALUATING
THE ACQUISITION OF C-130 AIRCRAFT AND HAVE SUBMITTED A LIST
OF QUESTIONS TO GATHER MORE INFORMATION BEFORE DECIDING TO
PROCEED WITH A REQUEST FOR THE AIRCRAFT. THEIR US ADVISOR,
CUBIC APPLICATIONS, INC., HAS TOLD THE EMBASSY THAT THE
SLOVAKS HAVE THE FINANCIAL WHEREWITHAL TO SECURE FINANCING
(CONFIRMED BY LOCKHEED MARTIN REPRESENTATIVES AS AVAILABLE)
TO PURCHASE AND UPGRADE THE AIRCRAFT TO A FULLY OPERATIONAL
STANDARD (COST ESTIMATED AT $50 TO $60 MILLION FOR 5 TO 6
AIRPLANES) IF THEY WOULD GIVE UP SOME OTHER PARTS OF THEIR
CURRENT PLAN WHICH ARE NOT BENEFICIAL TO NATO AND WHICH MOST
PROBABLY DO NOT ENHANCE THEIR OWN DEFENSE CAPABILITIES.

WEISER



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