CZECH REPUBLIC: BLUE LANTERN PRE-LICENSE CHECK ON

UNCLAS PRAGUE 000899 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR PM/DTCC - BLUE LANTERN COORDINATOR E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KOMC ETTC LO EZ SUBJECT: CZECH REPUBLIC: BLUE LANTERN PRE-LICENSE CHECK ON APPLICATION 050056144 REF: STATE 104291 ¶1. (SBU) Econoff spoke with Ministry of Defense America Desk Officer LtCol Lubor Koudelka July 30 about LD Aviation's request to export radar components to Slovakia. Koudelka confirmed LD Aviation is licensed by the Czech Ministry of Industry and Trade to import and export defense articles. In a separate conversation, Ministry of Industry and Trade Director of Special Exports Zdenek Richtr confirmed this license and said his Ministry has no derogatory information concerning the company. ¶2. (SBU) Econoff also talked to LD Aviation Managing Director Jaroslav Najman, who confirmed the order involved avionics upgrades for helicopters. He had no knowledge of the specific application number, noting that it was likely filed by Southeast Aerospace in Florida, but confirmed the details of the order. Najman claimed LD Aviation was working as a subcontractor under an umbrella contract between Air Transport Europe and the U.S. Army, and that the U.S. Army will be the end-user (NOTE: Najman stated his understanding that the U.S. Army owns the helicopters and they are for use in Afghanistan, but provided no documentation to substantiate this claim. End note). LD Aviation will install the radar components on Mi-8 helicopters provided by Air Transport Europe, a Slovak company that provides emergency medical and contract helicopter services. ¶3. (SBU) Najman said LD Aviation has been in operation for approximately five years and specializes in avionics upgrades and spare parts sales. He said he was familiar with the restrictions against unauthorized re-export or re-transfer of U.S.-origin defense articles. LD Aviation is a registered dealer for Schweizer Aircraft and also works with Eurocopter. Najman told Econoff that 80% of LD Aviation's business comes from the Czech Republic and Slovakia. He said the remainder comes primarily from Europe. When asked about non-European customers, Najman said LD Aviation had worked with Israel Aircraft Industries to modernize six helicopters for the US Army with anti-rocket systems. He believed the aircraft in this case were Mi-17 helicopters. THOMPSON-JONES