4月16日,專注于科技、國防與國家安全報道的資深記者大衛(wèi)·金斯(David Jeans)在《福布斯》發(fā)表文章指出,硅谷軍用無人機公司對“中國制造”的高度依賴,已成為美國軍方難以回避的棘手難題。

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近年來,美國軍方加緊部署大量軍用無人機,為可能爆發(fā)的沖突做準備。

然而問題隨之而來:他們發(fā)現(xiàn)手中的無人機在許多關鍵零部件上依賴“中國制造”。這不僅是供應鏈的難題,更演變成關乎國家安全的戰(zhàn)略掣肘。

Pentagon leaders are calling for thousands of drones to prepare for war in the Pacific. But as Trump's tariffs escalate tensions with China, they face an uncomfortable reality: Silicon Valley's drone companies are addicted to Chinese components.

繞不開的中國制造

雖然美國到處喊“去中國化”,但現(xiàn)實是:全球商用無人機市場,中國占了將近90%的份額。從機身、電池、無線電,到攝像頭、顯示屏,幾乎所有關鍵部件都被中國企業(yè)掌握。

China currently controls close to 90 percent of the global commercial drone market, and manufactures most of the key hardware used to build them – airframes, batteries, radios, cameras and screens.

就連上個月,美國副總統(tǒng)萬斯在弗吉尼亞州參加海軍陸戰(zhàn)隊無人機演示時,被拍到戴的也是一副中國產(chǎn)的無人機顯示護目鏡。

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美國副總統(tǒng)萬斯在參觀海軍陸戰(zhàn)隊基地時,戴著中國制造的Skyzone設備。圖源:AFP via Getty Images

“進‘藍名單’比被中國制裁還難”

美國國家安全專家喬?!に固孤↗osh Steinman)表示,擺脫中國零件是一個不可避免的痛苦的過程:“你遲早得撕下創(chuàng)可貼,要么你主動撕,要么中國來撕?!?/p>

"You are going to have to pull the bandaid off at some point," said Josh Steinman, who previously oversaw supply chain security at the National Security Council. "And either you are going to choose or China will."

為此 ,美國五角大樓搞出個“藍名單”(Blue List)制度,只有通過審核、沒有中國零件的無人機才能拿到軍方合同。

The primary on-ramp to drone contracts is the Pentagon's Defense Innovation Unit (DIU), which maintains a so-called Blue List of drones that are approved for military use.

這份“藍名單”每年更新一次,由六名員工負責審核。他們要測試上百款產(chǎn)品,確保其中沒有任何《國防授權法案》(National Defense Authorization Act, NDAA)所禁止的中國零部件,比如攝像頭、飛控系統(tǒng)、無線電設備和地面控制系統(tǒng)——這些大多是負責信號傳輸?shù)年P鍵部件。

然而,一些無人機制造商表示,這項審核機制已經(jīng)成為行業(yè)發(fā)展的一個瓶頸。今年,超過300家企業(yè)提交了申請,但只有23家獲得批準。BRINC公司戰(zhàn)略與發(fā)展負責人安德魯·科特(Andrew Cote)表示:“被中國制裁可比進入藍名單容易?!?/p>

Some drone manufacturers say it has become another bottleneck that stifles the industry. This year, just 23 companies were approved out of more than 300 submissions. "It's easier to get sanctioned by China than it is to get on the Blue List," said Andrew Cote, BRINC's head of strategy and growth.

大疆讓美國“去中國化”進退兩難

美國的軍事領導人、國家安全專家以及無人機行業(yè)普遍將大疆視為一項嚴重威脅,甚至有人提出:若要打造一個不依賴中國的無人機產(chǎn)業(yè),就必須將大疆 (DJI)徹底排除出美國市場。

按照美國無人機協(xié)會主席內森·埃克爾巴格(Nathan Ecelbarger)的說法: “只要大疆還在,就沒有足夠的市場來支撐美國本土產(chǎn)業(yè)鏈的發(fā)展。 ”

Military leaders, national security experts and the drone industry all seem to agree on one thing: building a China-free supply of drones relies on expelling DJI from the US. "Until DJI is entirely banned, there's not enough market to stand up a US industrial base," said Nathan Ecelbarger, chairman of the US National Drone Association, which aims to speed up military adoption of drones.

但美國似乎難以在短時間內停止對大疆的依賴。去年12月,國會不得不在相關法案中刪除了對大疆產(chǎn)品的禁令。

大疆總部位于深圳,是全球最大的無人機制造商之一,也是美國警方和農(nóng)場最主要的無人機供應商。

編輯:左卓

見習編輯:裴禧盈

來源:福布斯

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