MTAG INDIA: MAYURAKSHI IS NOT INVOLVED IN

C O N F I D E N T I A L NEW DELHI 004830 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/01/2017 TAGS: PARM PREL ETTC MTCR KSCA IR BU IN SUBJECT: MTAG INDIA: MAYURAKSHI IS NOT INVOLVED IN EXPORTING UAV EQUIPMENT TO IRAN ACCORDING TO GOI REF: A. 06STATE 102771 ¶B. 06STATE108324 ¶C. 06STATE147092 ¶D. 05STATE22372 ¶E. 05STATE231129 ¶F. ANKARA 2581 Classified By: Acting PolCouns Atul Keshap for Reasons 1.4 (B,D) ¶1. (C) Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) for Disarmament and International Security (DISA) Under Secretary Jayant Khobargade provided a nonpaper to PolOff October 26 in response to reftel demarches. Khobargade noted that three issues concerning the Indian firm Mayurakshi had been resolved: -- No import of an Attitude and Heading Reference System (AHRS) from the U.S. had taken place. Khobargade indicated that an order had been placed by Mayurakshi, but that it had been cancelled immediately, and that the firm had given up the idea of importing an AHRS system from the U.S. after the GOI had begun to make inquiries -- Mayurakshi had not imported Turbo-jet Unmanned Air Vehicle (UAV) engines. The company had, at one time, negotiated with a company from the United Kingdom (UK) to do so, but no transaction had taken place. Khobargade suggested that the USG investigate the issue within the UK, as it was a UK company which had shown intent -- Regarding the import of an air-launched infrared tow target from Aviatechnica in Bulgaria, Khobargade stated that there was no record of Mayurakshi having placed an order for this item. ¶2. (C) Khobargade requested that the USG provide details on the current state of the Iranian UAV program in order to help Indian efforts to prevent firms from assisting Iran's program. ¶3. (C) Text of Nonpaper: Reference USG demarches regarding imports by an Indian company Mayurakshi Equipment Private Limited. USG through different demarches had raised three issues: (i) Import of AHRS system from U.S. (ii) Import of Turbo-jet UAV engines (iii) Import of Air launched infrared tow target from Aviatechnica, Bulgaria, all for diverting to Iran either directly or through Malaysia for the development of Iran's Unmanned Air Vehicle Programme. GOI has been regularly sharing information with the USG on cases of possible onward proliferation in the spirit of close and friendly relations and shared objective of preventing proliferation. As USG is aware Mayurakshi cancelled the order for importing AHRS system from the United States. Our investigations revealed that Mayurakshi neither procured UK-origin turbo-jet UAV engines, nor air launched infrared tow target from Aviotechnica, Bulgaria. Mayurakshi has not exported any equipment to Iran for its unmanned aerial vehicle programme. It would be appreciated if USG shares information with GOI on Iran's UAV programme. End text. MULFORD