RESPONSE TO BLUE LANTERN COLOMBIA LICENSE 050147620

UNCLAS BOGOTA 004032 SENSITIVE SIPDIS PM/DTCC - BLUE LANTERN COORDINATOR E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ETTC KOMC CO SUBJECT: RESPONSE TO BLUE LANTERN COLOMBIA LICENSE 050147620 REF: STATE 113095; TEL AVIV 2669 ¶1. (SBU) Summary. Per reftel A, Colombian Air Force officials confirmed the purchase of ten harnesses from Rafael Advanced Defense Systems (Rafael ADS) via CICOIL Corporation in the United States. All ten harnesses are currently in the process of being integrated with Colombian aircraft at Rafael's warehouses in Israel. End Summary. ¶2. (SBU) Emboff contacted the Colombian Air Force Office of Logistical Operations to request confirmation of receipt of five Turret Harnesses and five Laser Logic Harnesses from Rafael ADS for use with Colombian Kaffir aircraft. The Colombian Air Force responded with a letter from Head of Air Logistics Operations General Flavio Enrique Ulloa, which states that the Colombian Air Force purchased the harnesses from Rafael ADS and that the items are still at located at Rafael's facilities in Haifa, Israel. ¶3. (SBU) Rafael ADS provided the Air Force a purchase order dated February 18, 2009, which shows the purchase of the harnesses from CICOIL Corporation of Valencia, California by Rafael USA, Inc. The harnesses were sent to Rafael ADS in April 2009. On December 6, three Colombian Air Force officials and Rafael ADS employee Jerry Taler verified the location of the harnesses at Rafael's warehouse in Haifa. Ulloa's letter certifies that three Turret harnesses and one Laser Logic harness have been incorporated into one Litening pod and two Reccelite pods which will be attached to the Kaffirs. The remaining two Turret harnesses and four Laser Logic harnesses are still in storage at Rafael's warehouse in Israel. ¶4. (SBU) Ulloa verified the Colombian Air Force's relationship with Rafael ADS, noting that the harnesses are components of systems acquired by the Colombian Air Force through a government-to-government contract with Israel. The information provided by the Colombian Air Force concurs with information provided by Rafael ADS in reftel B, and the use of the equipment appears to be consistent with the stated purpose on the license. NICHOLS