OMAN BLUE LANTERN RESPONSE TO APPLICATION 050043972

UNCLAS MUSCAT 000852

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

FOR NEA/ARP, PM/DTCC - BLUE LANTERN COORDINATOR (STITZIEL)

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETTC KOMC MU
SUBJECT: OMAN BLUE LANTERN RESPONSE TO APPLICATION 050043972

REF: A. MUSCAT 613


B. BRUSSELS 1777

C. STATE 65529

This is an action message, please see paragraph 2.


1. (SBU) On September 3, Embassy received a formal response
from Brigadier General Habeeb bin Muhammad bin Habeeb
al-Balushi of the Royal Army of Oman (RAO) on the purchase of
93 Vision Block 2510-00-630-0790 spare parts to be used for
the M-48 tank, as listed ref C. In his letter, al-Balushi
noted that the RAO does not have the M-48 tank in its fleet,
and therefore did not order spare parts for it.


2. (SBU) Action Request and Comment: Embassy requests that
Department confirm with the Minneapolis-based seller that the
pre-license application is correct in identifying the M-48
tank as the model for the spare parts, as opposed to the M-60
tank. From review of the Omani agent's records (ref A),the
Ministry of Defense did place an order for 93 Vision Block
2510-00-630-0790 spare parts for its M-60 fleet.
Furthermore, Embassy understands that this particular spare
part can be used on either the M-48 tank or the M-60 tank.
End Action Request and Comment.
GRAPPO