U/S EDELMAN INFORMS DEFENSE SECRETARY DUTT AESA

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 NEW DELHI 008017 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/27/2021 TAGS: PREL PGOV MARR MASS MCAP KSTC KOMC IN SUBJECT: U/S EDELMAN INFORMS DEFENSE SECRETARY DUTT AESA RADAR IS ON THE TABLE FOR MRCA; NEW DRAFT LOA LANGUAGE OFFERED - CORRECTED COPY Classified By: DCM Geoffrey Pyatt for Reasons 1.4 (B, D) ¶1. (U) This cable replaces New Delhi 7884, to reflect changes made in the clearance process not included in the original. ¶2. (C) Summary. Undersecretary Eric Edelman told Indian Defense Secretary Shekhar Dutt that the Department of Defense has concluded that the U.S. would be prepared to make Active Electronically Scanned Array(AESA) radar technology available to U.S. companies competing for the expected Indian Request for Proposal (RFP) for 126 Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MRCA). Dutt appeared delighted at the offer, and said an annex would be added to the existing draft RFP to describe radar specifications for the MRCA. The Indian side also presented a draft End Use Monitoring (EUM) note for future Letters of Offer and Acceptance (LOA),which it claims is consistent with U.S. law but worded more to India's liking, and which could become the standard text for future contracts. The two also briefly discussed the situation in Afghanistan. End Summary. AESA Offer Makes U.S. Bids Superior -------------- ¶3. (C) In a November 16 meeting on the margins of the Defense Policy Group, Undersecretary Edelman expressed U.S. interest in the RFP for the MRCA, noting the question of whether the RFP would specify whether a mechanical or electronically scanned radar would be required, and stated the DoD has concluded that once an RFP comes out, the U.S. would be prepared to make the electronically scanned AESA technology available to U.S. companies competing for the contract. He clarified that the radar would not be available for co-production. He pointed out that AESA had previously been made available to only one other country under similar conditions, the United Arab Emirates, and stated the inclusion of the AESA radar should make U.S. companies highly competitive in the MRCA bid. He also noted that there would end-use monitoring and transferability restrictions as well. ¶4. (C) Secretary Dutt said that the request for information (RFI) discussions were designed to determine which equipment would be specified in the RFP, and asked if AESA had been briefed in previous discussions. General Kohler, also in attendance, replied that the U.S. was not able to brief on specific AESA radars before this decision to offer was made, but said general capabilities of AESA had been discussed, and offered a fuller briefing in the near future. Secretary Dutt said a draft RFP for the MRCA was done in September and that now a number of annexes are being added, stating the RFP was in its final stages. He expressed appreciation for AESA being offered and said the RFP would include radar specifications. He encouraged a briefing to be set up promptly. India Offers Draft LOA Language -------------- NEW DELHI 00008017 002 OF 002 ¶5. (C) The Indian side presented draft EUM language for use in future LOAs that would be acceptable to India, asserting the LOA it signed for the USS Trenton purchase contained language India was uncomfortable with, particularly in regard to end-use monitoring conditions for physical inspection. Ministry of External Affairs Joint Secretary (Americas) Jaishankar explained that two of the four points in the draft were taken from the Arms Export Control Act section 40(A) and the 505 Agreement, while the other two points remained consistent with the standard U.S. LOA text. U/S Edelman said he would pass the proposed text to relevant authorities in Washington for review. Dutt Describes Indian Concerns On Afghanistan -------------- ¶6. (C) Secretary Dutt described his concern over security in Afghanistan, particularly in regard to India's interests/personnel on the ground. He noted India's involvement in road building, and said attacks on Indian personnel draw large public reaction in India, and the GOI has shown restraint in its response to such attacks. He asserted Pakistan-based terrorists were involved in destabilizing Afghanistan. U/S Edelman acknowledged the difficulties of Afghan reconstruction and stressed the importance of the work, while also describing U.S. efforts to engage Pakistan on Afghan security. ¶7. (U) Undersecretary Edelman has cleared this cable. MULFORD