C-26 HANDOVER CEREMONY

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 LIMA 004739

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PE PREL SNAR MAS
SUBJECT: C-26 HANDOVER CEREMONY


1. Summary: Two C-26Bs, donated to the Peruvian Air Force
(FAP) by the USG in 1997, were officially dedicated to CN
missions October 31 in a ceremony with Ambassador Struble and
senior Peruvian officials. The USG, through Embassy NAS,
gave $3.5 million to refurbish the two aircraft that will
replenish Peru's decrepit aviation fleet. An MOU between NAS
and the FAP establishes a $1.75 million maintanance and
support contract using USG funds for one year, after which
the FAP will assume all costs for the aircraft. One C-26 is
fitted with a FLIR camera. Both are dedicated to CN purposes
and will contribute to cooperation between the FAP and the
Peruvian Police (PNP). End Summary.


2. In a formal ceremony with Peruvian Air Force General
Conde and other senior government officials on October 31,
Ambassador Struble officially acknowledged the support given
by the USG of $3.5 million to repair and upgrade two of four
Peruvian Air Force (FAP) C-26B aircraft, donated to the
GOP/FAP for CN purposes in May, 1997 under PD 96-57 as part
of 506 drawdown. The first two donated C-26Bs were returned
to Peru several years ago. The second pair had not been
returned until July and September of this year, respectively,
awaiting a USG decision on how best they could be used and
supported. In 2005, NAS funded a $1.75 million contract with
ARINC to maintain and support the aircraft for one year,
after which the GOP/FAP has agreed to assume full support.
The contract includes pilot training, maintenance training,
ground support equipment, spare parts and fuel. Both
aircraft will be flown by FAP crews on missions that support
eliminating illicit drug cultivation, production, processing
and trafficking. One of the C-26Bs has been fitted with a
Forward-Looking Infrared camera (FLIR),capable of tracking
ground vehicles, boats or personnel. The other C-26 has been
upgraded to passenger configuration. The aircraft have
flight capability to do day and night missions that include
intelligence gathering, combined operations, terrestrial,
fluvial and marine interdiction operations, personnel
transport and search and rescue support. GOP entities that
will use the C-26s for CN purposes include the Ministry of
Interior (CORAH,CADA,PNP),DEVIDA, and the Peruvian military.



3. Embassy PAS coordinated press coverage of the event,
securing broad and accurate reporting of this important
contribution to our counternarcotics efforts. Broadcast
media devoted significant time in the evening newscasts,
while several papers devoted full-page spreads to the
ceremony, complemented by specific details of the technical
capabilities of the airplanes and their equipment.


4. There is a long history to these C-26Bs. The delay in
returning the second pair was for practical and financial
considerations. When the FAP received the first two C-26Bs
donated in the 1997 drawdown, they arrived in Peru without a
support program or a well-defined misson. The FAP used the
aircraft to support Peruvian Police (PNP) operations only
briefly before the effort faltered. Embassy Lima sought to
avoid the same outcome with the two remaining C-26Bs which
remained in storage in Newfoundland, Canada, pending a
decision to provide funds through Lima's NAS to return them
to a flyable condition. After the Ambassador had approved a
plan to ensure the aircraft would be successfully used, NAS
Director Keogh and FAP Commanding General Conde signed an MOU
on June 10 regarding the use and deployment of the two stored
C-26Bs.


5. NAS is working with the FAP to establish a counter
narcotics squadron, and to define and implement an acceptable
use of its resources. After the MOU was signed in June, NAS
sent four pilots to Flight Safety International to learn how
to fly the C-26s. The small unit has less than 30 members
and only two aircraft. The FAP have already flown more than
70 hours of support to NAS/PNP CN programs in the C-26s,
despite some initial nose wheel steering problems. To date,
FAP/PNP cooperation has been positive: a particularly
successful operation occurred October 19, when the FLIR
aircraft and crew supported a joint operation with the
Commando Conjuntos which resulted in the seizure of 61 liters
of opium latex at Satipo, near Mazamari. Additionally, the
C-26s have provided more than 20 hours of airlift support to
the NAS Police program.


6. Comment: The FAP appreciates the addition of these two
refurbished aircraft to their air fleet. The Peruvian
military and police fixed wing aviation support programs are
unable to meet either the airlift needs of the CN program, or
to provide the Peruvian military with an emergency airlift
response capability. Refurbishing these two C-26s is an
investment that should pay dividends by providing the CN
effort with reliable transport and reconnaissance airlift and
surveillance capability, and fostering cooperation between
the FAP and the Peruvian police, heretofore lacking.
STRUBLE