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 NNNN