July 14, 2017
Time for US to treat modern drones like aircraft, not missiles
President Trump’s decision last month to sell MQ-9B Guardian drones to India represents a significant shift in U.S. drone export policy.
International transfers of drones like the MQ-9 are restricted by the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR), an anachronism from 30 years ago when the MTCR was signed and drones functioned more like missiles than aircraft. The Trump administration’s decision to sell MQ-9s to India is a good first step to treating drones like aircraft, which are not covered under the MTCR. But if the administration follows up with additional drone sales to other nations, it will be important for the U.S. to clearly distinguish drones from missiles in order to preserve the MTCR’s norm against missile proliferation.
Read the full piece on The Hill.
More from CNAS
-
Commentary
Energy, Economics & Security / Technology & National Security
Sharper: Chips and Export ControlsAs competition between the United States and China has intensified, advanced technology has become the latest battlefield. After years of restricting China’s access to advance...
By Charles Horn
-
Podcast
Technology & National Security
Scaling Laws: The Open Questions Surrounding Open Source AI with Nathan Lambert and Keegan McBrideKeegan McBride, adjunct senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security joins to explore the current state of open source AI model development and associated policy qu...
By Keegan McBride
-
Podcast
Energy, Economics & Security / Technology & National Security
Export Controls: Janet Egan, Sam Levy, and Peter Harrell on the White House's Semiconductor DecisionJanet Egan, a senior fellow with the Technology and National Security Program at the Center for a New American Security, discussed the Trump administration’s recent decision t...
By Janet Egan
-
Commentary
Indo-Pacific Security / Technology & National Security
America Should Rent, Not Sell, AI Chips to ChinaSelling AI chips to China outright reduces America's AI lead for little benefit....
By Janet Egan & Lennart Heim
