Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08KOLKATA352
2008-12-24 07:58:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Consulate Kolkata
Cable title:  

BLUE LANTERN LEVEL 3: POST-SHIPMENT END-USE CHECK ON LICENSE

Tags:  ETTC KOMC IN 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO4288
RR RUEHBI RUEHCI
DE RUEHCI #0352 3590758
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 240758Z DEC 08
FM AMCONSUL KOLKATA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2226
INFO RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 2096
RUEHBI/AMCONSUL MUMBAI 0948
RUETIAA/DIRNSA FT GEORGE G MEADE MD
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHMFIUU/FBI WASHINGTON DC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHINGTON DC
RUEHCI/AMCONSUL KOLKATA 2721
UNCLAS KOLKATA 000352 

SIPDIS

PM/DTCC FOR BLUE LANTERN COORDINATOR (BALLARD)

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETTC KOMC IN
SUBJECT: BLUE LANTERN LEVEL 3: POST-SHIPMENT END-USE CHECK ON LICENSE
050093110

REF: STATE 00118450

UNCLAS KOLKATA 000352

SIPDIS

PM/DTCC FOR BLUE LANTERN COORDINATOR (BALLARD)

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETTC KOMC IN
SUBJECT: BLUE LANTERN LEVEL 3: POST-SHIPMENT END-USE CHECK ON LICENSE
050093110

REF: STATE 00118450


1. (SBU) Summary: Post conducted a post-shipment check on
license 050093110 and has received confirmation from the end
user Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) in Kolkata regarding the
receipt of the carbines. Econ FSN visited OFB headquarters in
Kolkata and obtained a letter confirming their receipt of the
firearms along with a copy of the airway bill. OFB confirmed
that the carbines are currently located inside its ammunition
factory at Kirkee, Pune in the state of Maharashtra and are
being used to test ammunition intended for export to Thailand.
OFB expressed interest in additional cooperation with US
companies, particularly in the production of ammunition. End
Summary.


2. (SBU) Econ FSN spoke with Director of Exports at OFB Prakash
Agarwala who verbally confirmed that they have received one
Bushmaster M4A2 type and one Bushmaster M16A2 type carbine as
per license 050093110. On December 15 Econ FSN met Agarwala at
the OFB headquarters in Kolkata. Agarwala was quite cooperative
and understood the purpose of the visit. He handed over a
letter on behalf of OFB acknowledging the receipt and possession
of the firearms along with a copy of the airway bill no.
055-38838041 dated July 14, 2008, listing Bushmaster Firearms
International LLC as the consignor, the Ordnance Factory Board,
Kolkata as the consignee and the declared value of the
consignment as USD 1,564.


3. (SBU) Agarwala said that the OFB has received an order from
the Government of Thailand to supply 5.56 mm caliber cartridges
and that the purpose of importing the carbines from Bushmaster
International is to test these 5.56 mm cartridges. The imported
firearms are currently located at OFB's Ammunition Factory in
Kirkee, Pune in the state of Maharashtra. On December 22,
Agarwala called Econ FSN with a request to schedule a meeting
for a senior OFB official Rajiv Chakraborty with an appropriate
Consulate official to discuss possibilities for further
collaboration with US companies for the manufacture of
ammunition.


4. (SBU) Ordnance Factories are departmental factories of the
Ministry of Defense (MOD),Government of India. MOD has 39
factories across India manufacturing defense goods primarily for
the Indian Armed Forces; however, some production is intended
for export.

PAYNE