US embassy cable - 04PRAGUE1870

C O N F I D E N T I A L PRAGUE 001870 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR NP/ENCP, INR/SPM, PM/RSAT, EUR/PRA, EUR/NCE 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/22/2014 
TAGS: ETTC, KSTC, PARM, PREL, PINR, EZ, PK 
SUBJECT: CZECH MFA SOLICITS US OPINION ON POTENTIAL SALE OF 
PASSIVE RADAR TO PAKISTAN 
 
REF: A. PRAGUE 1830 
     B. PRAGUE 1064 
     C. STATE 172966 
 
Classified By: Deputy Political Counselor Mark Canning for reasons 1.4 
(a) (b) (c) and (g) 
 
1. THIS IS AN ACTION REQUEST.  SEE PARA 7 
 
2. (C) As foreshadowed in Reftel A, the Czech Ministry of 
Foreign Affairs is, for the second time this year, soliciting 
US opinion on the possible sale of a Czech-produced passive 
radar system to Pakistan. 
 
3.  (C) As in the previous case, dealt with in Reftels B and 
C, this MFA request is based on a request from the Czech firm 
ERA to begin preliminary marketing discussions with the Air 
Force of Pakistan. Unlike the previous case, the proposed 
sale would not involve the passive system VERA-E, but an 
earlier, less powerful model of passive radar, the ASDD-01. 
 
4. (C) Reftel C describes U.S. concerns over a possible 
reexport of the VERA-E to China as the primary reason for 
opposing a VERA-E sale to Pakistan. The U.S. concern played 
an important role in the decision by the GOCR in July to deny 
ERA permission to move forward with marketing the system to 
Pakistan. The firm has recently approached the MFA with new 
information about the sale of a Swedish radar system, the 
Erieye, to Pakistan. The Erieye is made by Ericsson Microwave 
Systems and is described as an active, phased-array 
pulse-Doppler radar that can be used for Airborne Early 
Warning and Control Systems. The firm provided news reports 
stating Pakistan will purchase seven copies of the Eireye. 
 
5. (C) The firm argues that the ASDD-01 is based on the same 
technology as the Erieye.  In addition the firm has offered 
to discuss reexport concerns.  The firm made the suggestions 
that GPS equipment be included in the hardware to identify 
its location, and that unannounced spot checks of the 
equipment be agreed to in any potential contract. 
 
6. (C) Comment: In presenting the formal request for USG 
views on the proposed sale during a meeting on Dec 22, Czech 
MFA staff pointed out the huge symbolic benefits of any sale, 
even a non VERA sale. The GOCR, and the MFA in particular, 
which were publicly criticized for halting earlier requests 
to market VERA, are now under renewed public and private 
pressure from the politically-influential ERA to license 
exports.  As MFA staff did not hesitate to point out, good 
news on a high-profile sale like this would boost the ability 
of the weak Czech government to win approval for 
controversial policy moves, such as the further extension of 
Czech troops in Iraq.  End Comment. 
 
7. Please provide response in the next 90 days, if possible, 
to the Czech request for Washington advisory opinion. 
CABANISS