The Sky’s the Limit: Understanding China’s UCAV Exports

Executive Summary

China has emerged as one of the world's leading developers of Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicles (UCAVs). This is reflected in China's exports of UCAVs, especially across West Asia and Central Africa. This document examines the factors that have enabled China to build such a robust export market, the politics of UCAV exports, and the implications for other countries, including India. The key takeaways are as follows:

• China exports UCAVs to approximately 18 countries, with key importers being Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Egypt. Of these customers, only Pakistan is a major importer of Chinese arms.

• China’s exports often serve not only its economic interests but also for the Chinese Communist Party to expand its influence and serve its broader geopolitical interests. In many cases, these countries are part of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) or are critical to China's regional ambitions.

• China’s UCAV exports are enabled by a robust domestic ecosystem to develop and make these systems. The People’s Liberation Army has implemented many policies that prioritise excelling in high-tech production, autonomy and robotics—some of the integral aspects of UCAV production.

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