BLUE LANTERN LEVEL 3: POST-SHIPMENT END USE CHECK

UNCLAS ANKARA 003784 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/SE AND PM/DTTC E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ETTC KOMC TU SUBJECT: BLUE LANTERN LEVEL 3: POST-SHIPMENT END USE CHECK OF LICENSES 05-952140, 05-935458, AND 05-949858 REF: A. SECSTATE 77031 ¶B. SECSTATE 77034 ¶1. SUMMARY: We met with an official from ASELSAN to discuss license numbers 05-952140, 05-935458, and 05-949858 per reftels, and confirmed the orders and the end users. End Summary. ¶2. During a June 6, 2006 meeting at the ASELSAN HQS building on the outskirts of Ankara, ASELSAN Program Manager Burce KARABAY was forthcoming about their ongoing contracts. Karabay chaired the meeting and answered most of our questions. Regarding license no. 05-935458, Karabay said ASELSAN had received most of the Raytheon 27 W1000 Thermal Weapons Sights kits and most of the 27 chopper assemblies, but that ASELSAN had purchased only six of the eight categories of components. Karabay claimed that ASELSAN decided not to purchase "Lens no. 1, 3 (3181053)" and "Lens no. 2, 9 (3181057)" components due to their cost, noting that an unspecified Turkish firm was able to manufacture lenses of sufficient quality similar to these lenses. Karabay said that none of Raytheon's thermal weapons sights have yet been exported to other countries. He did remark that ASELSAN had received permission from Raytheon and the USG to export its own kits to Georgia, and that ASELSAN was awaiting approval on the export of other kits to Bulgaria but was awaiting final approval from the USG. Karabay said that the kits exported to Georgia, and those proposed for sale to Bulgaria, were manufactured by ASELSAN but would consist of second-generation technology. ¶3. Regarding the 600 casings (license 05-949858),Karabay said ASELSAN is no longer using the US firm Howmet Castings Bethlehem. He claimed that ASELSAN had tired of Howmet's delivery delays and had switched to use an unspecified Turkish subcontractor. ¶4. Regarding license 05-952140, the export of M929 aviator night vision goggle spare parts and components. Karabay said that the MOD had ordered 45 sets of goggles for Turkish Naval and Coast Guard forces and that eight had been delivered thus far. Karabay said the remaining 37 sets were expected in April 2007 due to delays from the US supplier, ITT Industries Night Vision company based in Roanoke, Virginia. Karabay complained extensively about the delays in the supply of the night vision equipment in accordance with US regulation. ¶5. Based on the site visit, the meeting with the ASELSAN official, and the follow-on information provided, ASELSAN appears to be properly using the W1000 Thermal Weapons Sights kits and the M929 aviator night vision goggles. Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/ WILSON