WASHINGTON (Sputnik) – The US Drone Manufacturer General Atomics supports the US government’s new policy allowing the export of military unmanned aerial vehicles, the company’s representative told Sputnik.
“General Atomics supports the [US President Barak Obama] administration’s new policy as a step forward in improving relationships with our key allies and enabling interoperable missions across a broad range of engagements,” General Atomics Aircraft Systems Group President Frank Pace told Sputnik on Wednesday.
The new policy requires recipient nations to abide by end-use guidelines before a sale or transfer is authorized, the statement said, and they can use the drones solely for national defense and abide by international law.
Foreign militaries are prohibited to use the drones for unlawful surveillance or against domestic populations, according to the new policy, and must provide drone operators with technical and doctrinal training on their use to reduce the risk of unintended casualties or damage.
The United States has carried out more than 500 targeted killing drone strikes since 2001, killing an estimated 3,674 militants, including 473 civilians, according to the Council on Foreign Relations.
General Atomics is a major defense contractor producing a line of defense products including three types of armed Predator drones and the Gray Eagle.
