PERU: IDENTIFYING AIR ASSETS FOR PAKISTAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L LIMA 000786 SIPDIS DEPT ALSO FOR SCA/P (RLYONS) E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/03/2019 TAGS: PREL EAIR PARM SMIG PK PE SUBJECT: PERU: IDENTIFYING AIR ASSETS FOR PAKISTAN REF: STATE 55654 Classified By: Ambassador P. Michael McKinley for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (SBU) This telegram responds to reftel's urgent action request to evaluate possible availability of MI-17 helicopters for use by the Pakistani military. This message also contains an action request for SCA/P in para 4. ¶2. (C) The Peruvian Air Force has seventeen MI-17 helicopters in its fleet,seven of which are operational. The Peruvian Army (EP) is believed to possess approximately 22 MI-17 helicopters, two of which are operational. ¶3. (SBU) Embassy believes that the Government of Peru (GOP) is unlikely to lease, sell or donate any of its nine operational MI-17 helicopters because it needs them for its own humanitarian and counterinsurgency missions. However, Embassy believes that the GOP might be interested in discussing a deal involving some of its deadlined MI-17's if the terms were favorable. ¶4. (SBU) Action Request for SCA/P: Please advise if the Embassy should seriously pursue discussions with the Peruvians on the possibilities of leasing, selling or trading some of its deadlined MI-17 helicopters. Please bear in mind that the current status of these helicopters is unknown and that a technical study would be required to assess the feasibility and costs of repairing them. End Action Request. MCKINLEY