JUST IN: President Donald Trump has officially signed off on new rules making it easier to export military #drones to other countries (as we broke last night.) Details here via @ValerieInsinna , with updates to come defensenews.com/industry/2020/…
Our reporting from yesterday previewing this: defensenews.com/industry/2020/…
State Department's Chris Ford now talking with @RLHeinrichs at Hudson Institute about MTCR changes.
Ford talking about how the focus on 800 km/hr restrictions were first raised by the US to other MTCR countries back in 2018 -- something we broke back in the day, as well. defensenews.com/air/2017/12/19…
yes, I'm tooting our own horn here, because the New York Times wouldn't, shockingly.
"we're going to keep" pushing the proposal on MTCR, Ford says, but for now US going forward with its own interpretation. "The United States is not willing to let US interested be forever held hostage" by international decision making.
"There will be no presumption of approval" and every drone transfer will be a case by case basis, Ford says.
In essence, this change puts drones that fly at speed less than 800 km/hr into the same weapon export rules that, say, an F-16 has.
In essence, this change puts drones that fly at speed less than 800 km/hr into the same weapon export rules that, say, an F-16 has.
"The best way to address these issues" would have to gotten all members on board, but "at least one MTCR participation seems to have prioritized reflexive opposition to anything the United States proposes." Won't say which country it is.
"We gave it the old college try," says Chris Ford of trying to get the rest of the MTCR countries on board with the change.
Drones, of course, can be clumsy.
Keep in mind, this is largely about military drones, not small beer delivering drones.
Ford: This change is not just a substantive change but "a signal to industry and the international customer base" that each case can be looked at on the merits, as opposed to dealing with the presumption of denial.
A certain dollar figure on what could come from this?
Ford: "For the most part, we dont ourselves drive sale.s We respond to interest and requests....I think perhaps [this] might have a ripple effect through the demand space, but we shall see."
Ford: "For the most part, we dont ourselves drive sale.s We respond to interest and requests....I think perhaps [this] might have a ripple effect through the demand space, but we shall see."
Ford says @USArmsControl will be meeting in Vienna next week with Russia on another discussion on arms control.
"I dont think anyone will be too terribly surprised by this," Ford says, citing previous discussions. "I like to think the decision [will largely] be understood," although indicates he's not expecting much love from MTCR member Russia.
