The unbearable simplicity of buying a UAV

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Experts in Israel are continuing to watch with increasing weariness China’s growing involvement in the weapon systems industry, and the transfer, later on, of these systems to ‘suspect’ regions of the world. These are regions where weapons could reach terror organizations acting against Israel locally and globally. The greatest concern is regarding the great simplicity with which it is possible today to buy an armed and relatively advanced Chinese UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle).

Sources in Israel have reported that China is developing several UAV models, armed with bombs and missiles. The concern is that these will reach terror organizations such as the Hizballah and the organizations operating in the Sinai Peninsula.

Recent Chinese Aerial Exhibitions have shown a varied display of armed UAVs manufactured locally. Some of the models are capable, according to their manufacturers, of carrying smart bombs that have a high level of accuracy, as well as carrying anti-tank missiles. The exhibited models resemble advanced American aerial systems.

The Chinese are known for their ability to carry out ‘reverse engineering’, that is to build an aerial vehicle or any other product by taking apart and analyzing the structure of somebody else’s manufacture, in order to copy the product’s building plans.

Iran too has exhibited during the last year UAV of its manufacture, but Israeli experts estimate that these do not have advanced capabilities. The Israeli sources are certain that armed Chinese UAVs will soon find their way to “the wrong hands”.

The easiness with which China exports its defense products causes great concern not only in Israel, but only little is being done and, those in the know say, very little can be done. “They are aware no one can enforce export restrictions on them,” said one source.

The concern about armed UAVs reaching terror organizations is great, since these vehicles can hit specific targets, and require much deployment on the ground and in the air in order to intercept them in time. In the last couple of years several simple UAVs have penetrated Israel from Lebanon, and were intercepted by the Air Force. All of these were unarmed.