Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08ADDISABABA2478
2008-09-08 08:36:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Addis Ababa
Cable title:
ETHIOPIAN HELICOPTERS FOR UNAMID
how-toVZCZCXRO7452 PP RUEHROV DE RUEHDS #2478 2520836 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 080836Z SEP 08 FM AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1966 INFO RUCNIAD/IGAD COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHKH/AMEMBASSY KHARTOUM PRIORITY 1097 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 7501 RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY RUEPADJ/CJTF HOA PRIORITY RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUEKDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RHMFISS/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L ADDIS ABABA 002478
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/03/2018
TAGS: PREL KPKO SU ET
SUBJECT: ETHIOPIAN HELICOPTERS FOR UNAMID
Classified By: Ambassador Donald Yamamoto. Reason: 1.4 (B).
C O N F I D E N T I A L ADDIS ABABA 002478
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/03/2018
TAGS: PREL KPKO SU ET
SUBJECT: ETHIOPIAN HELICOPTERS FOR UNAMID
Classified By: Ambassador Donald Yamamoto. Reason: 1.4 (B).
1. (C) Ethiopian AIR FORCE Chief of Staff Major General
Molla Hailemariam Alemayehu told SAO and PolOff on August 28
that Ethiopia was prepared to provide four MI-35 HIND
helicopter gunships and two MI-17 HIP transport helicopters
for the United Nations Mission in Darfur (UNAMID)
peacekeeping force. General Molla said that the night vision
issue for the MI-35s was being worked by Ethiopia, but he
requested assistance from the United States to render the
MI-17s night vision capable. He suggested that at least four
or five MI-17s might need to be configured for the night
vision to compensate for potential aircraft changes and
replacement in the future. He could not provide a timeline
for when the MI-35s might be ready for deployment. General
Molla also asked that Washington provide the INMARSAT
portable earth station as called for by the UN FORCE
requirements for Darfur. At the SAO's request, General Molla
agreed to provide the SAO with a MI-17 flight engineer point
of contact to allow the SAO to obtain the exact helicopter
model and cockpit configuration so as to determine what
modifications might be needed to render the aircraft
compatible with the use of night vision goggles. Post will
continue to pursue this issue with the Ethiopian government
and coordinate with Washington as needed.
YAMAMOTO
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/03/2018
TAGS: PREL KPKO SU ET
SUBJECT: ETHIOPIAN HELICOPTERS FOR UNAMID
Classified By: Ambassador Donald Yamamoto. Reason: 1.4 (B).
1. (C) Ethiopian AIR FORCE Chief of Staff Major General
Molla Hailemariam Alemayehu told SAO and PolOff on August 28
that Ethiopia was prepared to provide four MI-35 HIND
helicopter gunships and two MI-17 HIP transport helicopters
for the United Nations Mission in Darfur (UNAMID)
peacekeeping force. General Molla said that the night vision
issue for the MI-35s was being worked by Ethiopia, but he
requested assistance from the United States to render the
MI-17s night vision capable. He suggested that at least four
or five MI-17s might need to be configured for the night
vision to compensate for potential aircraft changes and
replacement in the future. He could not provide a timeline
for when the MI-35s might be ready for deployment. General
Molla also asked that Washington provide the INMARSAT
portable earth station as called for by the UN FORCE
requirements for Darfur. At the SAO's request, General Molla
agreed to provide the SAO with a MI-17 flight engineer point
of contact to allow the SAO to obtain the exact helicopter
model and cockpit configuration so as to determine what
modifications might be needed to render the aircraft
compatible with the use of night vision goggles. Post will
continue to pursue this issue with the Ethiopian government
and coordinate with Washington as needed.
YAMAMOTO