On Friday, the U.S. government announced new way to interpret some provisions of the regime of control over missile technology (MTCR). From now on, they will consider themselves free to sell abroad heavy attack and reconnaissance unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), if their speed does not exceed 800 km/h. the missile technology control regime severely restricts the export of heavy drones, because they can be used to deliver weapons of mass destruction. The decision of the United States is explained by the desire to regain share in the growing multi-billion dollar arms market, as well as the fact that a certain unnamed member of the MTCR does not allow them to upgrade this mode. According to “Kommersant”, we are talking about Russia.On the White house website on Friday evening Moscow time, there was important news. The report said that “President Donald trump has taken steps to raise standards of export UAV”. It is further from the text it follows that it is not about raising standards, but rather mitigation. According to the us administration, the missile technology control regime is outdated and requires update: “Although the MTCR is critical to slowing the spread of weapons of mass destruction, in promoting peace and security, it is in dire need of modernization with respect to the UAV,”— said in the message. The regime of control over missile technologies is an informal Association of 35 countries agreed on a joint “responsible” approaches to the export of missile and weapons technology. It was founded in 1987 by seven Western countries, Russia acceded to it in 1995. In the framework adopted in accordance with the MTCR arrangements of the country adhere to certain restrictions on the export of weapons and technologies, exchange information and coordinate their national licensing activities.As already earlier wrote “Kommersant”, the most active removal from the USA of the restrictions in the MTCR for several years lobbied for the military-industrial complex of the country. First of all, the business was asked to withdraw from class I, significantly limiting the possibilities of transfer to other countries, missiles with a maximum range of 300 km and a payload of 500 kg and more as well as heavy strike and reconnaissance UAVs. According to the forecast of U.S. experts to 2029, the annual volume of the market of heavy drones will grow to $20 billion from the current $15.8 billion Now it is dominated by China and Israel (members of the MTCR, they are not).The white house, as published in the Friday message, listened to American businesses. In a statement, the U.S. administration stresses that the technology is rapidly evolving, and the “standards of the MTCR for more than three decades.” “These outdated standards provide an unfair advantage to countries outside the MTCR and harm industrial complex USA. In addition, they have a negative effect on our deterrent capability abroad, because our partners and allies are denied access to advanced technologies”,— stated in the message. In this case it follows from the text that Americans have for two years tried to convince the MTCR partners to develop a joint decision on the revision of restrictions on exports of drones. But this failed because in the MTCR, the rule of consensus, and initiatives of Washington found opponents. Assistant Secretary of state for international security and nonproliferation Christopher Ford, speaking on this topic at the Hudson Institute, explained that the reform was blocked by one country. He did not name, but said that “she seems to oppose everything that comes from the United States.” Kommersant’s source close to the state Department, said Christopher Ford was talking about Russia. Deputy Minister of foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Sergey Ryabkov said the Agency “RIA Novosti” that the removal of a category of heavy UAV from the first checklist of the MTCR would cause “serious blow” for the regime. “It’s a reflection of a General tendency to release US from any restrictions that prevent the plans of Washington, and the creation of more favorable conditions for its military-industrial complex, including through the expansion of export opportunities,” he said. In the absence of consensus over the sale of heavy drones, the US, as the message of the White house, decided to act alone, and will now be considered drones, whose speed does not exceed 800 km/h, category I and category II, which is not subject to tight restrictions on exports. From the output of the class I heavy drones will particularly benefit such giants of the military-industrial complex, as Northrop Grumman Corp. (the manufacturer of Global Hawk, whose top speed of around 640 km/h) and General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. (produces the Reaper, which the U.S. in January liquidated the Iranian General Qasem Soleimani, its speed — over 400 km/h).The White house believe that the decision of the United States the decision is not contrary to the MTCR. At the same time, it is, as the report says, “will strengthen U.S. national security by increasing the capacity of partners and contribute to the economic security of the country, paving the UAV market for American producers.””Cruise missiles, hypersonic weapons and advanced combat drones will remain prohibited for export, except, perhaps, in exceptional cases,” he said.
As for the sale of heavy drones, the White house promised to carefully weigh every possible deal. “Approval or denial of the sale UAV any country is a national decision and takes into account our national objectives in the field of security, nerasprostranenie��ia and foreign policy, as well as the ability of the buyer country to responsibly use and protect the technology of American origin”,— stated in the message. According to U.S. media, drones, Global Hawk and Reaper were interested in countries such as Saudi Arabia, UAE, Jordan and Romania.Note that in 2021 or 2022 Russia should take over the presidency of the MTCR.Elena Chernenko
