Say a US based weapons manufacturer feels he was dealt a raw hand by the US military in his past dealings with them, and he has determined to only sell his weapons to non-US countries.
Is there any law preventing him from doing so?
Treason, perhaps?
Seriously, you require an export license to do it. If you don’t, you are in trouble, … big time. Case in point.
FYI, here is the Department of Commence control list. From the Department of State site there are the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR). Other agencies may have their own lists, including DOD.
There have been weapon systems designed specifically for export. The F5 fighter for instance and the failed F20. So, I do believe it’s possible to rely on overseas sales. If a US manufacturer wanted to only make certain types of weapons, a conventional submarine for instance, they could only sell the, overseas.
Yes, but if you don’t violate ITAR, it isn’t a problem.
As other have said, your ability to (legally) sell your weapons to other countries has nothing to do with your US military sales. It has everything to do with ITAR.
I’m having trouble thinking of weapons that aren’t subject to ITAR. If a defense company makes things that aren’t subject to ITAR, they aren’t much of a defense company.
I guess that I didn’t put that very well. Yes, all weapons are subject to ITAR and a lot of non-weapons are subject to it as well depending on the technology that they use. Some things that are sold as commercial products still can’t be sold into certain countries or not without modification.
What I meant was as long as you don’t violate the rules of ITAR, you can cell certain defense materials to certain countries. Some countries get the best stuff, some the lesser stuff and some not at all.
And ITAR doesn’t say you have to sell to the U. S. military as far as I am aware.
I don’t think the US Gumment can MAKE a company bid on a RFP (Request For Proposal).