Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09WARSAW562
2009-06-03 15:28:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Warsaw
Cable title:
POLAND CONSIDERING REQUEST FOR MI-17 HELICOPTERS
how-toVZCZCXYZ0017 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHWR #0562 1541528 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 031528Z JUN 09 FM AMEMBASSY WARSAW TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8375 INFO RUEHZG/NATO EU COLLECTIVE RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD 0306 RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL 0113 RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL RHMFISS/CDR USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
C O N F I D E N T I A L WARSAW 000562
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SCA/P (LYONS)
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/03/2019
TAGS: PREL SMIG PARM PHUM PL PK
SUBJECT: POLAND CONSIDERING REQUEST FOR MI-17 HELICOPTERS
REF: STATE 55654
Classified By: Political Counselor F. Daniel Sainz for Reasons 1.4 (b)
and (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L WARSAW 000562
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SCA/P (LYONS)
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/03/2019
TAGS: PREL SMIG PARM PHUM PL PK
SUBJECT: POLAND CONSIDERING REQUEST FOR MI-17 HELICOPTERS
REF: STATE 55654
Classified By: Political Counselor F. Daniel Sainz for Reasons 1.4 (b)
and (d)
1. (C) Poland will consider the request for additional air
support for Pakistan and get back to us within a few days.
Maciej Falkowski of the MFA's Security Policy Department said
Warsaw understood the urgent need but pointed out that the
Ministry of National Defense (MND) had the lead on such
operational issues. He promised to raise the question with
Deputy FM Jacek Najder to determine the possibility of
leasing or lending helicopters to Pakistan, in coordination
with MND.
2. (C) DAO has discussed the request at MND but does not
expect a positive response due to the limited number of
MI-17s in the Polish inventory. Currently, Poland has a
total of 13 Mi-17s -- four are deployed to Afghanistan/Chad,
four are training for deployment to Afghanistan/Chad, three
are used for medevacs, and two are in backup or maintenance
status. Any helicopters offered to Pakistan via sale or
lease would have to be modified and would not meet a
short-term requirement. Donation is highly unlikely due to
budgetary constraints. A final decision, however, awaits
MFA/MND coordination.
ASHE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SCA/P (LYONS)
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/03/2019
TAGS: PREL SMIG PARM PHUM PL PK
SUBJECT: POLAND CONSIDERING REQUEST FOR MI-17 HELICOPTERS
REF: STATE 55654
Classified By: Political Counselor F. Daniel Sainz for Reasons 1.4 (b)
and (d)
1. (C) Poland will consider the request for additional air
support for Pakistan and get back to us within a few days.
Maciej Falkowski of the MFA's Security Policy Department said
Warsaw understood the urgent need but pointed out that the
Ministry of National Defense (MND) had the lead on such
operational issues. He promised to raise the question with
Deputy FM Jacek Najder to determine the possibility of
leasing or lending helicopters to Pakistan, in coordination
with MND.
2. (C) DAO has discussed the request at MND but does not
expect a positive response due to the limited number of
MI-17s in the Polish inventory. Currently, Poland has a
total of 13 Mi-17s -- four are deployed to Afghanistan/Chad,
four are training for deployment to Afghanistan/Chad, three
are used for medevacs, and two are in backup or maintenance
status. Any helicopters offered to Pakistan via sale or
lease would have to be modified and would not meet a
short-term requirement. Donation is highly unlikely due to
budgetary constraints. A final decision, however, awaits
MFA/MND coordination.
ASHE