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