CEO Says Government Restrictions Have Allowed China To Close The Technology Gap

U.S. government policy restricting the export of military drones is giving China a leg up in the market, according to the CEO of General Atomics.

Speaking August 16 at a meeting with reporters, General Atomics CEO Linden Blue said that U.S. Government restrictions by American companies on the sale of drones to allies and partner nations also precludes them from providing sustainment and logistics services, which can mean more business for U.S. companies and American jobs, according to a report from Defense News.

“What you are enabling the competition to do is not just to sell some hardware. You’re enabling it to build a customer base for at least 20 years, I would say. You’re enabling them to build a logistics system. It will take them many years to get to where we are right now, but you’re helping them start out. They should be very thankful," Blue said during the roundtable at the company’s headquarters in Poway, California.

Blue said that the U.S. policy is essentially bolstering the drone industry in countries like China, giving them the opportunity to gain more insight into the the use and sustainment of unmanned aircraft. It also allows U.S. adversaries like China to build stronger ties with its customers.

General Atomic's president David Alexander said at the Paris Air Show earlier this year that china has already closed the technology gap for drones, at least on the consumer end of the spectrum. "They're here," he said.

(Image from file)

FMI: Original Report