EXTRANCHECK: PRE-LICENSE CHECK: ISRO INERTIAL SYSTEMS UNIT,

UNCLAS NEW DELHI 007629 SIPDIS SIPDIS USDOC FOR 532/OEA/M. NICKSON-DORSEY/J. HATFIELD USDOC FOR 3131/USFCS/OIO/ANESA/KREISSL USDOC FOR 4530/MAC/ANESA/OSA ICE HQ FOR STRATEGIC INVESTIGATIONS STATE FOR EB/ESP E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ETTC ETRD BEXP IN SUBJECT: EXTRANCHECK: PRE-LICENSE CHECK: ISRO INERTIAL SYSTEMS UNIT, DEPARTMENT OF SPACE, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, KERALA, LICENSE NO. D362187 REF: USDOC 05391 ¶1. Unauthorized disclosure of the information provided below is prohibited by Section 12(c) of the Export Administration Act. ¶2. Export Control Officer (ECO) Michael Rufe and BIS FSN Prem Narayan conducted a Pre-license Check (PLC) at the ISRO Inertial Systems Unit (IISU),Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, on October 31, ¶2006. ¶3. BIS requested a PLC at ISSU, an agency of the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) under the GOI's Department of Space. IISU was listed as the ultimate consignee for five extruded Beryllium Aluminum alloy (AlBeMet),controlled under ECCN 1C230. The license applicant was Marketech International Inc., Townsend, WA. ¶4. Rufe met for approximately 2 hours with M. Thanapalan, General Manager, Inertial Systems Production, P.C. Thomas (Thomas),Deputy Project Director-INSAT-3D, P. Subramanian (Subramanian),Engineer, SASMD, C. Sreedharan (Sreedharan),Engineer (Indenting Officer), K.R.C. Nair (Nair),Senior Purchase & Stores Officer, IISU, Rajagopala, Pillai (Pillai),Acccounts Officer and Jacob Ninan (Ninan),Director-International Cooperation, ISRO-HQ. The meeting was facilitated by Under Secretary (AMS) Prashant Agrawal (Agrawal), Ministry of External Affairs (MEA),GOI. Agrawal was also present at the meeting. ¶5. IISU officials were aware of the BIS regulations. This was the first USG or BIS official visit to IISU. IISU officials provided a copy of the IISU profile, IISU Purchase Indent along with specifications, inviting bids from three suppliers against a limited tender, Sine Technologies submitting quotes to IISU on behalf of their U.S. principal, Marketech International, IISU Purchase Order, Sine Technologies letter requesting IISU to submit an end-use statement, and Form BIS-711 along with Supplementary Information for the end-use of Beryllium Aluminum alloy rods. ¶6. IISU officials gave a detailed slide presentation on various activities that IISU undertakes and supports including the end-use of the alloy. Thomas confirmed the stated end-use of the Beryllium Aluminum rods that will be used for developing and fabricating a �A;VHRR (very high-resolution radiometer) mechanical hardware. IISU is currently developing the scan mechanism for imager/sounder payload for the INSAT 3-D remote sensing satellite. The scan mechanism will be integrated to the Electro-Optic Module of the Sounder Payload of INSAT 3-D. The meteorological payload uses a VHRR that consists of a Scan Mechanism and related optics. The INSAT 3-D satellite will be used for weather forecasting and is expected to be launched in early 2008. The VHRR will specifically be used for the temperature measurement of clouds. The Beryllium Aluminum on order will be fabricated into Gimbal and Connect bars, part of the VHRR hardware. The stated end-use was confirmed. ¶7. Thomas stated in the structural model of the VHHR the results of the Scan Mechanism were not satisfactory by using conventional materials such as aluminum, titanium and stainless steel. It had frequencies interfering with critical subsystems such as momentum wheel and earth sensor leading to inferior quality weather pictures from the payloads. In order to eliminate the problems encountered, it was felt to increase the structural frequencies of the scan mechanism to more than 80 Hz. To achieve the required performance of the Scan Mechanism of the Imager and Sounder, a Beryllium Aluminum alloy was found to be essential for Gimbal and Connect Bars. The alloy has unique mechanical properties such as higher specific stiffness ratio in comparison to other common engineering materials, good dimensional stability, and low weight along with required thermal and optical properties. ¶8. IISU formerly a division of ISRO, carries out development of inertial sensors and systems for satellites and launch vehicles covering navigation systems, satellite inertial systems, bearing and space tribology and inertial systems integration and simulation. IISU facilities include precision fabrication, assembly, integration and testing. The thrust areas in which IISU is concentrating include mainframe inertial elements for remote sensing, communication and meteorological satellites. In addition, IISU is engaged in the development of inertial elements for the ASTROSAT and Chandrayaan satellites. IISU achievements include development of inertial systems for ISRO launch vehicles and satellites, solar array drive assemblies, scanning and mechanisms. It is currently engaged in the development of an inertial navigation system for the PSLV, GSLV, INSAT and IRS satellites. IISU employs approximately 268 personnel. ¶9. Recommendation: Post recommends the ISRO Inertial Systems Unit as a reliable recipient of the controlled U.S.-origin commodities. All indications are that the listed commodities will be used in accordance with U.S. export control regulations. (MRUFE) Mulford