Made in America, owned by Beijing: China’s quiet infiltration of US general aviation
China's Aviation Industry Corporation (AVIC) has quietly acquired significant stakes in American general aviation companies, raising national security concerns. These acquisitions, often masked by American branding, allow China to gain access to critical aerospace technology and expertise. The trend highlights a regulatory blind spot in U.S. oversight of general aviation compared to commercial aviation.
- ▪Cirrus Aircraft, the largest manufacturer of piston-powered general aviation planes in the U.S., has been owned by AVIC since 2011.
- ▪AVIC's acquisitions are part of China's Military-Civil Fusion strategy, which channels civilian innovations into military applications.
- ▪Continental Aerospace Technologies, acquired by AVIC in 2010, has contributed to China's development of advanced UAV power systems.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
Walk into any regional airport in America, and you’ll likely see a Cirrus aircraft on the tarmac. Sleek, American-made, often bearing the American flag. What you won’t see is the fine print: Cirrus Aircraft, the largest manufacturer of piston-powered general aviation planes in the United States, has been wholly owned since 2011 by a subsidiary of the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC), the CCP’s primary aerospace and defense conglomerate. The same company that builds fighter jets, attack helicopters, and drones for the PLA now owns the most delivered piston aircraft in America. Call it what it is: a strategic acquisition, and Congress has been asleep at the controls.
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Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at Washington Examiner.
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