LIBYA: GOC SEEKS ADVICE ON CONVENTIONAL ARMS

C O N F I D E N T I A L ZAGREB 000259 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR EUR/SCE - HOH, SAINZ, BALIAN; NEA/MAG - GAVITO; PM/RSAT - DOWLEY, ARCHETTO, STAFFORD, ROBINSON; ISN/CATR - KESSLER, WONG TRIPOLI FOR HARRIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/15/2017 TAGS: PARM ETTC PREL LY HR ARMS CONTROL SUBJECT: LIBYA: GOC SEEKS ADVICE ON CONVENTIONAL ARMS SALES, TANK UPGRADES Classified By: Political Officer Tom Selinger for reasons 1.4 (b) & (d) ¶1. (U) THIS IS AN ACTION REQUEST. Please see para 7. ¶2. (C) SUMMARY AND COMMENT: Agency Alan, the MoD's arms marketing agency, has unofficially approached Post seeking guidance on conventional arms sales to Libya. Alan General Manager Ivan Nekic told PolOff February 28 that he believes the Libyan military is interested in purchasing Croatian-produced HS-series pistols and RBG-6 40mm grenade launchers as well as a package of T-72 tank upgrades. Nekic said he would not proceed without the USG's "green light" and was willing to limit the T-72 upgrade package as we saw fit (a complete list of possible upgrades follows at para 5). He noted that Russia and Belarus are also interested in upgrading Libya's T-72 fleet, estimated by Nekic at as many as 2,000 tanks. Unlike these competitors, he stressed, Agency Alan would fully disclose to the USG the capabilities of all items/upgrades sold to Libya. ¶3. (C) Nekic is a constructive contact and has opened a frank dialogue with Post. With the US as his major customer, he wants to ensure he does not violate U.S. arms trade policy and has offered to clear every sale with us. In return, he hopes the USG will understand the value of the information he can share about his sales and not limit his customers unnecessarily. END SUMMARY AND COMMENT. T-72 UPGRADES INCLUDE FIRE CONTROL, COMMUNICATIONS, ARMOR -------------- -------------- ¶4. (U) HS-series pistols are manufactured by Croatia's "HS Produkt" and are available in the U.S. under the XD brand of Springfield, Inc. They are manufactured in 9mm, 40 S&W, and 357 SIG, and are designed for police and military use. RBG-6 grenade launchers fire a rotary magazine of six 40mm grenades (available through Alan in HE fragmentation, HEDP, Smoke, Incendiary, and Tear Gas) to a maximum effective range of 375 meters. ¶5. (C) Croatia,s Djuro Djakovic, a manufacturer of armored vehicles including M-84 tanks, would perform all T-72 upgrades, according to Nekic. According to a list provided to PolOff March 16, the complete upgrade package includes (M-84 designations): - Fire control system (EFCS3 M84D) - Thermal Stabilized Gunner's Sight (TSGS 84D) - Commander Take-over System (ComTOS) - Electric Drives of Turret and Gun - Remote-Controlled Weapon Station (12.7mm - RCWS 12.7) - Communication System (ITT SINCGARS RT-1702E(V) ) - Intercom (SOTAS-M2) - Power train (engine and rel equip - V-46-TK/BI 1.000 HP) - Engine and Transmission Protection System - Tracks (DIEHL 840I) - Driver's Panel (Hull Management System - RPV-D) - Firefighting System (SZ-D) - NC Detector (RAID-XP) - Mine-protected Driver Seat - Explosive Reactive Armor - ERA (RRAK) - Additional Ballistic Protection ("Slat") - Laser Warning System (LIRD-3A) - Battlefield Management System (BMS-84D) - Air-Conditioning System - MIL Batteries and Battery Charger - Training and Live-Fire Monitoring System (SONG-84) ¶6. (C) Nekic also told PolOff he had been given USG clearance in early 2006 to sell military patrol ships to the GoL without weapons systems, as well as telecommunications and training equipment. He has not moved forward on these sales, hoping USG relations with Libya would improve and result in clearance for the larger tank package. ¶7. (C) ACTION REQUEST: Post requests guidance by 02 April in responding to Nekic's inquiry regarding current USG views on conventional arms sales to Libya. Post would be grateful for a specific assessment of which tank upgrades the USG would find acceptable. ¶8. Tripoli minimize considered. BRADTKE