Angry Chinese Blogger
 |
 |
Angry Chinese Blogger:
The news and views about China that the big media can't, or won't, tell you The is no single truth Menu: Home |
|
Entries By Country
   |
Is it a bird? Is it a plane? Is it a Chinese model aircraft come to DESTROY US ALL?
posted Sunday, 25 February 2007
After 12 months of comparative silence, it would appear that things are now coming to a head in the case of Yamaha and its alleged export of sensitive technology to China.
According to official sources, three officials with Yamaha Motor Limited have been arrested in connection with allegations that the company sold almost a dozen RMAX UAVs - unmanned aerial vehicles - to China in the knowledge that they could potentially be converted for military purposes. These arrests come after events in January 2005 when criminal claims filed against Yamaha by the Japanese government lead to police raiding Yamaha's offices on the charge that they had breached Japanese export laws.
Although a company spokesperson did later confirm that Yamaha had had supplied a number of UAVs to China, they denied that it had broken technology laws, or that they had supplied China with any sensitive technology. In their defense, officials at Yamaha stated that UAVs sold to China were RMAX L181 industrial scale remote controlled helicopters, and that they did not constitute a prohibited technology because they were 'basic models' that were impractical for military use because their limited range, and the fact that they were tied to a human operator. Thus putting them outside of the boundaries of current export restrictions.
Despite these reassurances, reports from within Yamaha indicate the purchasing company was BVE, a Chinese firm that has previously been linked to the PLA. Leading some to question whether China intends to modify or reverse engineer their RMAX into reconnaissance platforms or weapons carriers. Reports indicate that some of Yamaha's UAV sales to BVE dates back as far as August 2002.
Coincidentally, the arrests came just as US Vice-President Richard Cheney launched a stinging criticism of China's military modernization program.
The Law
Under Japanese law, the sale of UAVs is legal, however companies wishing to sell them to China require special permission because they have the potential to be used for military purposes. According to authorities, Yamaha had no such permission.
The RMAX?
The Yamaha RMAX is an industrial scale remote controlled helicopter designed, in part, to allow Japan's aging population of farmers to spray their fields with insecticide with minimum effort, and without the need to employ additional laborers.
There are known to be approximately 1600 Rmax UAVs in operation in Japan at this time, most of which are used for crop spraying and related agricultural duties. A single RMAX costs in excess of $130,000.
RMAX and the Military?
Some RMAX models are however equipped with advanced GPS systems, lightweight video cameras, and advanced communications feed system, which could potentially allow them to be used for field reconnaissance or other military applications, and it has been speculated that an RMAX UAV could also be adapted to carry either an explosive weapons payload, or as a delivery mechanism for chemical and biological weapons.
However, they also have a very limited range and capabilities, falling far below the standards that would be required of most military grade technology. These limitations include a service ceiling of 10 meters above ground level, and a maximum travel range of 200 meters from a human operator.
Know Desires
In addition to the Japanese helicopters, China is known to have purchased a number of military grade Israeli Harpy UAV. With a range of up to 500 km, the Harpy is significantly more advanced than the Yamaha RMAX series. It is able to navigate autonomously and can be equipped as a reconnaissance drone, of fitted with advanced sensors that enables it to mount 'suicide strikes' against enemy vehicles and emplacements by tracking their radar emissions.
China is currently believed to possess approximately 100 Harpy drones.
According to official sources, three officials with Yamaha Motor Limited have been arrested in connection with allegations that the company sold almost a dozen RMAX UAVs - unmanned aerial vehicles - to China in the knowledge that they could potentially be converted for military purposes. These arrests come after events in January 2005 when criminal claims filed against Yamaha by the Japanese government lead to police raiding Yamaha's offices on the charge that they had breached Japanese export laws.
Although a company spokesperson did later confirm that Yamaha had had supplied a number of UAVs to China, they denied that it had broken technology laws, or that they had supplied China with any sensitive technology. In their defense, officials at Yamaha stated that UAVs sold to China were RMAX L181 industrial scale remote controlled helicopters, and that they did not constitute a prohibited technology because they were 'basic models' that were impractical for military use because their limited range, and the fact that they were tied to a human operator. Thus putting them outside of the boundaries of current export restrictions.
| "We have carried out the proper procedures for exports and have not violated the law" Spokesperson, Yamaha Motor Limited, Japan |
Despite these reassurances, reports from within Yamaha indicate the purchasing company was BVE, a Chinese firm that has previously been linked to the PLA. Leading some to question whether China intends to modify or reverse engineer their RMAX into reconnaissance platforms or weapons carriers. Reports indicate that some of Yamaha's UAV sales to BVE dates back as far as August 2002.
Coincidentally, the arrests came just as US Vice-President Richard Cheney launched a stinging criticism of China's military modernization program.
The Law
Under Japanese law, the sale of UAVs is legal, however companies wishing to sell them to China require special permission because they have the potential to be used for military purposes. According to authorities, Yamaha had no such permission.
| "Yamaha did not get the necessary permission when they exported or tried to export its RMAX Type IIG helicopters" Spokesperson, The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, Japan |
The RMAX?
The Yamaha RMAX is an industrial scale remote controlled helicopter designed, in part, to allow Japan's aging population of farmers to spray their fields with insecticide with minimum effort, and without the need to employ additional laborers.
There are known to be approximately 1600 Rmax UAVs in operation in Japan at this time, most of which are used for crop spraying and related agricultural duties. A single RMAX costs in excess of $130,000.
RMAX and the Military?
Some RMAX models are however equipped with advanced GPS systems, lightweight video cameras, and advanced communications feed system, which could potentially allow them to be used for field reconnaissance or other military applications, and it has been speculated that an RMAX UAV could also be adapted to carry either an explosive weapons payload, or as a delivery mechanism for chemical and biological weapons.
However, they also have a very limited range and capabilities, falling far below the standards that would be required of most military grade technology. These limitations include a service ceiling of 10 meters above ground level, and a maximum travel range of 200 meters from a human operator.
Know Desires
In addition to the Japanese helicopters, China is known to have purchased a number of military grade Israeli Harpy UAV. With a range of up to 500 km, the Harpy is significantly more advanced than the Yamaha RMAX series. It is able to navigate autonomously and can be equipped as a reconnaissance drone, of fitted with advanced sensors that enables it to mount 'suicide strikes' against enemy vehicles and emplacements by tracking their radar emissions.
China is currently believed to possess approximately 100 Harpy drones.
View Comments/Add a Comment