BLUE LANTERN END USE CHECK ON LICENSE 05-050022026

UNCLAS ANKARA 002227 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR PM/DTCC - BLUE LANTERN COORDINATOR E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ETTC KOMC KS TU SUBJECT: BLUE LANTERN END USE CHECK ON LICENSE 05-050022026 AND 05-050044473 REF: STATE 116264 ¶1. (SBU) We met with Tubitak Uzay Director Ugur Murat Leloglu on August 28 to discuss reftel Blue Lantern cases associated with Tubitak Uzay's RASAT Remote Sensing Satellite Project. Leloglu was forthcoming and eager to cooperate with our inquiry. We confirmed that Tubitak Uzay has received the couplers (Case Number 05-050022026),but has nQyet received tQRadiation Tolerant Field Programmable Gate Arrays (Case Number 05-050044473),as it is part of the remote sensing camera that Tubitak Uzay had ordered, but not yet received, from its South Korean partner, SATREC. Upon our request, Leloglu produced a list of major components for the camera. The list included "Radiation Tolerant Field Programmable Gate Arrays." The model number listed was identical to the one listed in reftel, except the model number ended with an "E, whereas the model number listed in reftel ended with a "B." According to Leloglu, Tubitak Uzay is expecting delivery of the camera from South Korea later this month. Leloglu has pledged to inform us when the camera arrives. ¶2. (SBU) Regarding the launch site for the satellite, Leloglu noted that his institution had been in negotiations with Kazakh satellite launch company Baikonur until very recently, but those negotiations broke down due to concerns over cost and timing. Subsequent to the collapse of talks with Baikonur, Tubitak Uzay had sent a message in early August to all companies capable of launching satellites to determine which company can meet its launch window of late 2008 to early 2009. Tubitak Uzay has received a positive response only from French aero-space firm Arianespace, with which Tubitak Uzay has begun negotiations. However, Leloglu noted that the Indian firm Antrix had also responded to Tubitak Uzay's inquiry by requesting additional technical details on the satellite. ¶3. (SBU) We reminded Leloglu about ITAR regulations prohibiting the re-transfer or re-export of USML components without express USG authorization, as well as standing USG policy prohibiting the launch of satellites containing USML components from India or China. Leloglu indicated that Tubitak Uzay plans to use Arianespace to launch the satellite, but asked whether there is a process to seek U.S. authorization to launch the satellite from India should all other options fail. We reiterated USG policy and discouraged Leloglu from exploring the possibility of an exemption. Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/ WILSON