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