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