FRANCE: BLUE LANTERN LEVEL 3: PRE-LICENSE END USE

UNCLAS PARIS 003151

SIPDIS

STATE FOR PM/DTCC - BLUE LANTERN COORDINATOR

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETTC KOMC FR
SUBJECT: FRANCE: BLUE LANTERN LEVEL 3: PRE-LICENSE END USE
CHECK ON APPLICATIONS 05-949555 and 05-912669

REF: STATE 33797


1. As requested reftel, post reached out to the French entities
Zodiac Aerazur and Aerazur Superflexit, both of whom responded
to our questions on May 6. Both confirmed that they are two
divisions of the same company, Aerazur.


2. Mr. Trontin of Aerazur Superflexit confirmed that his
company had placed an order for the items listed in reftel,
para 4B. He explained that these parts related to electric
"harness" and cable systems, which communicate information to
the pilot for the "EFA" Eurofighter program. Trontin said that
the equipment is currently with their client, Liebherr
Aerospace. According to their web site (www.liebherr.com),the
Liebherr Group is a family business based primarily in Germany,
with a Swiss holding company, Liebherr-International AG.
Liebherr Aerospace is one of several divisions. Liebherr is
"one of the world's leading manufacturers of construction
machinery .. (and) an acknowledged supplier of technically
innovative user-oriented products and services in numerous other
fields." During our conversation with Mr. Trontin, he promised
a more complete response by letter.


3. Post blue lantern action officer also spoke with Philippe
Dore of Zodiac Aerazur, who said that his company has been
placing three orders per year for 30 years for this kind of
safety foam from U.S. supplier company Foamex. The foam is used
in the manufacture of fuel tanks to minimize risk of accidents
or leaks. Mr. Dore faxed us a copy of the most recent actual
orders (faxed to PM/DTCC on May 10),which had been sent to
Foamex: one for 30 buns of ORANGE safety foam (for October 22,
2004, delivery) and another for 180 buns of blue safety foam
(for January 18, 2005, delivery). For the Type I ORANGE safety
foam, the order specifies a bun of 40" x 80" x 5", while the bun
for the Type IV blue safety foam is 2300mm x 469mm x 250mm.


4. In both cases, the Aerazur purchase orders say "The
commodities that are the subject of this purchase order 2014-
2171789 will be used in connection with the manufacture of fuel
tanks for military vehicles and racing cars." The order forms
also went on to say "The following statement shall be
incorporated as an integral part of the bill of lading, and the
invoice: 'These commodities are authorized by the U.S.
Government for export to FRANCE for Zodiac - Aerazur. They may
not be resold, diverted, transferred, transhipped, or otherwise
be disposed of in any other country, either in their original
form or after being incorporated through an intermediate process
is not other end-items, without the prior written approval of
the U.S. Department of State.'"


5. Mr. Dore said that these orders are for helicopters for
Eurocopter and other companies. This was explained further in
the order forms, which specified:

(quote)
The end use and end user:
Foam for Fuel Cell Tank of Obussier Tank for Rheinmetall Company
in Germany.
Foam for Fuel Cell Tank of Wiesel Tank for Rheinmetall Company
in Germany.
Foam for Fuel Cell Tank of Microturbo military car for
Microturbo in France.
Foam for Fuel Cell Tank of Tiger helicopter for Eurocopter
Company in France.
(end quote)

After giving mailing addresses for each of the three companies
listed above, the order form notes that "For the point no 4 the
French and German governments can sold (sic) to another European
government" which appears to refer to fuel tanks provided for
the Tiger helicopter, but this seems to conflict with the
earlier citation concerning prohibition against resale or
transfer to "any other country" without prior written approval
of the U.S. Department of State. We will inquire further about
this apparent contradiction, when Mr. Dore returns from vacation
in mid-May.


6. Both Zodiac Aerazur and Aerazur Superflexit confirmed that
they were separate divisions of the same company, Aerazur.
However, only one, Aerazur Superflexit, confirmed that their
order was related to the Eurofighter program. Zodiac Aerazur's
order for safety foam is part of a long-standing relationship
with Foamex as its supplier for the manufacture of fuel tanks
for military vehicles and racing cars, or more specifically in
this case, for helicopters. Post will attempt to further
corroborate these findings with appropriate French government
officials.
WOLFF