VZCZCXRO6766
PP RUEHTRO
DE RUEHNJ #0286/01 1951136
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 141136Z JUL 09
FM AMEMBASSY NDJAMENA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7098
INFO RUEHKH/AMEMBASSY KHARTOUM PRIORITY 0545
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS PRIORITY 2378
RUEHTRO/AMEMBASSY TRIPOLI PRIORITY 0626
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
RHMFISS/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE PRIORITY
RUEKDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 NDJAMENA 000286 
 
SIPDIS 
SENSITIVE 
 
STATE FOR AF/C AND S/USSES 
NSC FOR GAVIN 
SECDEF FOR DASD HUDDLESTON 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PREL MASS PREF PHUM CD
SUBJECT: GOC CONSIDERS RETROFITTED C-130H AIRCRAFT TO MEET 
AIRLIFT NEEDS 
 
¶1.  (SBU)  This is an Action Message --  see para 8. 
 
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SUMMARY 
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¶2.  (SBU) The Government of Chad remains interested in 
acquiring C-130 aircraft to fulfill its significant airlift 
needs, despite earlier unsuccessful attempts to procure 
C-130Js through FMS.  GOC-USG conversations during the June 
28-29, 2009 visit by Presidential Special Envoy Scott Gration 
and the July 3-6, 2009 visit by Deputy Assistant Secretary of 
Defense for African Affairs Ambassador Vicki Huddleston have 
revived efforts on both sides to find an effective way 
forward.  SE Gration discussed both the merits and drawbacks 
of the new C-130Js versus older but retrofitted models with 
President Deby.  DASD Huddleston underscored USG willingness 
to assist Chad and suggested an assessment team evaluate 
Chad's air transport needs and provide recommendations to 
both governments.  We are encouraged that there may well be a 
viable and mutually agreeable way forward on this issue and 
request that the Department engage with DASD Huddleston's 
office to realize the implementation of a State-DOD 
assessment team.  END SUMMARY. 
 
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CHAD STRATEGIC AIR TRANSPORT NEEDS 
---------------------------------- 
 
¶3.  (SBU) Chad is three times the size of California with 
less than 1,000 miles of paved road.  With over 400,000 
refugees and internally displaced persons in the East -- some 
600 miles across the country from the capital -- the 
Government of Chad (GOC) has an irrefutable need for 
significant air transport capabilities.  The GOC has been 
unsuccessful in its attempts to purchase C-130Js from the 
U.S. during the last 18 months, but nevertheless remains 
committed to sourcing its airlift capability from the U.S. 
At the time, the GOC was interested in three top-of-the-line, 
expensive C-130J, which would have required full pre-payment 
of 500 million USD and necessitated a multi-year wait.  The 
U.S. Congress ultimately denied approval for the sale in 
(month) 2008 when it became clear that the GOC was having 
trouble coming up with financing for the purchase. 
 
¶4.  (SBU) GOC-USG conversations during the June 28-29 visit 
by Special Envoy Scott Gration and the July 3-6 visit by 
Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for African Affairs 
Ambassador Vicki Huddleston have revived hopes on both sides 
of finding an effective way forward. 
 
--------------------------------------- 
GRATION OUTLINES MERITS OF OLDER MODELS 
--------------------------------------- 
 
¶5.  (SBU) SE Gration was invited to a small, casual dinner 
hosted by GOC President Idriss Deby Itno following their 
official meeting earlier June 29, an honor only accorded to 
French PM De Villepin, French FM Joubert, and EU High 
Representative Solana in recent memory. The dinner was 
attended by some of Deby's closest senior advisors, including 
Minister of Infrastructure Adoum Younousmi, Intelligence 
Chief Chaibo, and Chadian Ambassador to Washington Bechir; a 
major portion of the conversation centered on the 
sought-after C-130s.  Gration, speaking pilot-to-pilot with 
Deby, explained both the merits and drawbacks of the 
different C-130 options, including the new J-model and 
retrofitted earlier E- and H-models.  Deby, along with 
Younousmi (who is the President's chief advisor on government 
spending), seemed to agree with the Special Envoy that it 
would be worthwhile to consider retrofitted H-models as a 
useful alternative to the J-model for a country like Chad 
with pressing social and economic  development needs and 
budgetary constraints. 
 
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HUDDLESTON PROPOSES A WAY FORWARD 
--------------------------------- 
 
¶6.  (SBU) DASD Huddleston, during July 5-6 meetings with the 
 
NDJAMENA 00000286  002 OF 002 
 
 
Minister of Defense and other MOD officials, conveyed USG 
willingness to assist the GOC in meeting its strategic 
airlift needs.  DASD Huddleston specifically proposed that an 
assessment team -- ideally made up of U.S. military air and 
acquisition experts and State representatives -- visit Chad 
soon to conduct a technical appraisal of Chad's needs and to 
evaluate the USG's ability to meet those needs.  The 
assessment visit would conclude with recommendations to both 
governments on a solution within Chad,s means. 
 
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COMMENT 
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¶7.  (SBU)  It seems to us that President Deby and Minister 
Younousmi indicated more willingness to consider the older 
retrofitted aircraft described by SE Gration and supported by 
DASD Huddleston than did AMB Bechir and Air Force Chief 
Orozi, both firm adherents of the C-130Js.  That encourages 
us to believe that we may well have a new way forward on this 
issue, one that considers alternatives to the C-130Js.  There 
is a legitimate, demonstrable need by the GOC for strategic 
air transport, but alternatives to the costly J-model should 
be explored more intensively at the appropriate political and 
technical levels.  END COMMENT. 
 
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ACTION REQUEST 
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¶8.  (SBU) That the Department cooperate closely with DASD 
Huddleston's office to facilitate the travel of a State-DOD 
assessment team to Chad as soon as practicable. 
 
¶9.  (U) This cable has been cleared by SE Gration's staff but 
not by DASD Huddleston's staff. 
 
¶10.  (U) Minimize considered. 
NIGRO