232. Memorandum From the Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs (Warnke) to the Deputy Secretary of Defense (Nitze)1
SUBJECT
- Shah’s Request for Additional Pilot Training
The Air Force has developed what I believe is an ingenious proposal for meeting the Shah’s request to the President for additional pilot training for his Air Force. As you know, the Shah asked for a total of 75 spaces for FY 68, but Major General Jablonsky, the US MAAG Chief in Iran, has assured us that the program he has worked out with the Iranian Supreme Commander’s Staff (which calls for only 60 pilot spaces per year) is perfectly adequate. (Copy attached.)2
The FY 68 jet pilot training program for Iran currently is programmed at 29 spaces, 24 grant and 5 sales. The Air Force has agreed to make 15 more spaces available for FY 68 (recouped from Australia and Saudi Arabia), and proposes to train 16 additional Iranian pilots in its basic T–28 (propeller-driven) program for 9 months and to send USAF instructor pilots to Iran thereafter to give the 16 transition training to jets in country. General Jablonsky thinks this arrangement would be satisfactory to Iran (the Shah learned to fly jets in this manner) and believes that the 60 pilots thus trained in FY 68 would meet the Shah’s needs. 24 spaces would be grant aid and 36 FMS.
This does not solve the need for additional spaces in future years, which turns on other OSD decisions now pending. I recommend, however, that you reply to the White House that DOD proposes to handle Iran’s FY 68 pilot training requirement in this manner and that the foregoing proposal be discussed with the Shah during his visit.