Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06NEWDELHI8223
2006-12-08 07:18:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy New Delhi
Cable title:  

EXTRANCHECK: PRE-LICENSE CHECK: ORDNANCE FACTORY DEHRADUN,

Tags:  ETTC ETRD BEXP IN 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXYZ0012
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHNE #8223/01 3420718
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 080718Z DEC 06
FM AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI
TO RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC
RUEAHLC/HQ ICE IAO WASHINGTON DC
INFO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1222
UNCLAS NEW DELHI 008223 

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: ORDNANCE FACTORY DEHRADUN,
UTTARANCHAL, LICENSE NO. D364154

REF: USDOC 06144

UNCLAS NEW DELHI 008223

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: ORDNANCE FACTORY DEHRADUN,
UTTARANCHAL, LICENSE NO. D364154

REF: USDOC 06144


1. Unauthorized disclosure of the information provided below is
prohibited by Section 12(c) of the Export Administration Act.


2. Embassy Science Officer (SO) Donald Brown and BIS FSN Prem
Narayan conducted a Pre-license Check (PLC) at Ordnance Factory
Dehradun (OFD),Dehradun, Uttaranchal, on November 28, 2006.


3. BIS requested a PLC at OFD, a GOI-owned unit under the Ordnance
Factories Board, Ministry of Defence (MOD),located at Raipur,
Dehradun, Uttaranchal 248008, Tel: 0135-278-7120, Fax:
0135-278-7177, email: itofddn@sanchar.net.in, Website:
www.ofbindia.gov.in. OFD was listed as the ultimate consignee for
one electron beam physical vapor deposition machine, Model Orion
BC-3600 controlled under ECCN 2B005. The license applicant was
System Control Technology Inc. (SCT),Livermore, CA.


4. The SO and FSN Narayan met with S. Chandrasekhar (Chandrasekhar),
General Manager; R.S. Puri (Puri),Additional General Manager; G.
Vishwanadham (Vishwanadham),Joint General Manager and G.S.R.
Prabhakar (Prabhakar),Joint General Manager. OFD. Under Secretary
(AMS) Prashant Agrawal (Agrawal),Ministry of External Affairs
(MEA),GOI, facilitated the meeting. Agrawal was also present in
the meeting.


5. OFD officials were not aware of the BIS or aware of BIS
regulations. This was the first USG or BIS official visit to OFD in
Dehradun. OFD officials stated that on November 17, 2004, they
floated a global tender for purchasing an electron beam physical
vapor deposition machine high vacuum thin film coating applications.
SCT submitted a bid on February 5, 2005 for supplying the coating
plant. Since their proposal met the technical specifications and
had the best price, SCT was awarded the order. Puri provided a copy
of the OFD supply order, the SCT quotation along with the technical
specifications, OFD End-Use Statement, and correspondence between
OFD and SCT concerning the proposed transaction.


6. Prabhakar gave a detailed slide presentation on various optical
surveillance devices that OFD manufactures including the end-use of

the thin film coating plant. He stated that the thin film coating
plant on order would replace the existing (European-supplied) plant
that is approximately 30 years old. The new plant will be used for
the same purpose as the existing plant is being used. The primary
difference is the old plant is analog controlled and the new plant
is digitally controlled.


7. Prabhakar confirmed the stated end-use. The thin film coating
plant will be used to coat glass binocular lenses. He stated that
the thin film interference coatings are routinely added to optical
components to enhance reflectivity or to minimize reflective losses
at air-glass interfaces. Such coatings are mandatory on optical
instruments as modern optical devices comprise of multi-element
designs to achieve the required image quality. In addition to
minimizing reflective losses, the coating is also helpful in
protecting the lens' surface. OFD will use the thin film coating
plant for various coatings, including single layer MGF2
anti-reflection coatings, double layer narrow band 'V' coatings,
broad band anti-reflection coatings, aluminized front surface
mirrors and chrome deposition for reticles. The process of coating
the lenses takes approximately 4-5 hours. The finished coated
lenses will be integrated into optical surveillance devices that OFD
manufactures for the Indian armed forces. The plant runs in two
shifts and is guarded 24 hours a day. SO Brown and FSN Narayan were
given a brief tour of the facility where the existing plant is
operating. The new plant on order will be installed at the same
place replacing the existing plant.


8. Established in 1943, OFD is one of the 39
ammunition-manufacturing factories, functioning under the aegis of
the Ordnance Factory Board (OFB),headquartered in Kolkata,
Department of Defence Production, MOD. In addition to 39 factories,
OFB has 58 laboratories. OFD is engaged in the production of
optical surveillance devices and mechanical instruments including
compasses and clinometers. It also manufactures precision
mechanical components, optical components including convex and
concave lenses, prisms and mirrors, assembly and testing of optical
instruments for surveillance. In addition, OFD produces snow
goggles, airfield lighting equipment including taxiway lights, small
and large size reflectors. The prime customers of OFD are all three
armed forces of India, Para-military forces under the Ministry of
Home Affairs and other defence departments. OFD employs
approximately 1,575 personnel.


9. Recommendation: Post recommends Ordnance Factory Dehradun as a

reliable recipient of the controlled U.S. origin commodity. All
indications are that the listed commodity will be used in accordance
with U.S. export control regulations (DBROWN/PNARAYAN) Mulford