Autonomy, Technology, and National Security: The Case for Reforming the Missile Technology Control Regime

February 2019

Past Event

Autonomy, Technology, and National Security: The Case for Reforming the Missile Technology Control Regime

Past Event

Hudson Institute, Washington, D.C. Headquarters

February 12, 2019

(JEWEL SAMAD/AFP/Getty Images)

February 2019

Past Event

1201 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Suite 400
Washington, DC 20004

Speakers:

Dr. Michael Horowitz

Professor, University of Pennsylvania

Benjamin Schwartz

Executive Director, Defense & Aerospace Export Council

Rachel Zissimos

Policy Analyst, The Heritage Foundation

Dr. Arthur Herman

Senior Fellow, Hudson Institute

Timothy Morrison

Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director, Weapons of Mass Destruction and Biodefense, National Security Council

Dr. Christopher Ford

Assistant Secretary for International Security and Nonproliferation at the State Department

On February 12, Hudson Institute hosted a discussion on future of the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR). Panelists included University of Pennsylvania Professor Dr. Michael Horowitz, U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Benjamin Schwartz, and the Heritage Foundation’s Rachel Zissimos. The discussion was moderated by Hudson Senior Fellow Dr. Arthur Herman.

With the global market for Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) predicted to reach $13 billion by 2024, militaries around the world are rapidly incorporating this critical technology into their operations. However, under the MTCR–a 1987 international agreement designed to prevent proliferation of ballistic missiles–UAS are categorized as missiles, and the U.S. is severely restricted in exporting this technology to its closest allies. Other countries, including China and Russia, have taken this opportunity to become the prime sellers of UAS globally. Reform of the MTCR’s weapons classifications is necessary to strengthen U.S. national security and advance American technological progress.

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Ram Madhav

Ashok Malik

Richard Rossow

Joel Scanlon

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Lisa Curtis

Bill Drexel

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