Page 15 - ADT MARCH / APRIL 2020 Digital Magazine | GBP

Golden was once dominated by U.S. companies, looks [UNMANNED AERIAL SYSTEMS ]
vastly different now. Handcuffed by excessively
tight export controls, American drone makers
have been forced to literally stand by and watch
as their counterparts from other countries
Opportunity dominate the market. While Israel continues to
be the top exporter, China has, in recent years,
become a major player in the market and have
sold systems to at least a dozen countries. Both
the countries have benefited from the reluc-
tance on part of the U.S. to sell armed drones
to anyone but its closest allies.
WITH MAINTENANCE ISSUES CAUSING PROBLEMS “For too long we have hamstrung ourselves
FOR MILITARIES THAT HAVE PURCHASED and limited our ability to provide our allies and
CHINESE-MADE MILITARY DRONES, AMERICAN partners with the defensive capabilities they
require, even when in the U.S. interests,” Peter
MANUFACTURERS SENSE AN OPPORTUNITY Navarro, White House National Trade Council
head, said when the Trump administration intro-
Arun Sivasankaran duced its new UAS export policy in 2018, one
that makes it easier for American companies
to sell armed drones to militaries around the
It has taken some time, but after a prolonged period of helplessly world.
watching on as militaries around the world opted for easily available
Chinese unmanned aerial systems (UAS), American military drone Faltering Performance
makers are finally starting to feel that the winds are changing. “It is important countries around the world
The optimism is not based just on the fact that the President understand the risks of choosing to procure
Donald Trump wants American manufacturers to reclaim their systems from China or from Russia,” Clarke
premier position in the market. Recurring maintenance woes of Cooper, U.S. assistant secretary of state for
Chinese-made military drones have made many militaries refo- political military affairs, said in October last
cus on getting American drones, even if it means going through year. Cooper cited examples, referring to the
a rigorous vetting process and waiting longer. American military Chinese-made Harbin Z-9 helicopters pur-
drone manufacturers see the wave of negative opinion surrounding chased by Cameroon in 2015, one of which
Chinese systems as an opportunity to regain their position in the crashed soon after purchase, and CH-4 armed
market. There is quite a bit of lost ground to make up for American drones, which China had sold to many countries
drone makers. The military unmanned aerial vehicles market, which in the Middle East. The drones were found to

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