April 20, 2018
A new U.S. policy makes it (somewhat) easier to export drones
The Trump administration just announced a new drone export policy designed to make it easier for U.S. companies to export drones, including armed drones. Given concerns about the proliferation of these lethal systems, what explains this policy shift?
U.S. drone export policy is determined both by domestic policy and U.S. obligations as a member of the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR), a voluntary export control regime with 35 member states. Created in 1987, the MTCR was designed to prevent the spread of missiles with the potential to carry weapons of mass destruction.
Even though drones are more akin to airplanes than missiles, drones that can travel more than 300 kilometers and carry a payload of more than 500 kilograms are subject to the “strong presumption of denial” for export by MTCR members. As a result, U.S. armed drones have only been approved for sale to the Britain, Italy and France.
Read the full article at The Washington Post
More from CNAS
-
Commentary
Technology & National Security
CNAS Insights | Unpacking the H200 Export PolicyAI Chips for China With two new policies, President Donald Trump has implemented his pledge to allow sales of NVIDIA’s H200 AI chips to China in exchange for a quarter of the ...
By Janet Egan & James Sanders
-
Podcast
Indo-Pacific Security / Technology & National Security
AI and Policy, Both Foreign and DomesticIn an episode recorded just before Christmas, Darren interviews Janet Egan, Senior Fellow and Deputy Director of the Technology and National Security Program at CNAS, about AI...
By Janet Egan
-
Commentary
Technology & National Security
Quantum Computing’s Industrial ChallengeThis article was originally published in Just Security. The United States, China, and Europe are preparing to refresh their national quantum programs in 2026, making this a pi...
By Constanza M. Vidal Bustamante
-
Commentary
Technology & National Security
Unlike Giant Companies, Many Small Businesses Can’t Afford AI Infrastructure. This Bill Would HelpThis article was originally published in on NOTUS. Massive private investment has propelled America’s AI leadership, but it also raises thorny questions about the technology’s...
By Vivek Chilukuri
