Articles Posted in Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC)

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In just a three-week period starting in September, the State Department’s Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC) published six rulemakings that make or propose notable changes to the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR). These include the following:

  • A broad omnibus proposed rule that would remove items from the U.S. Munitions List (USML), revise core definitions and add a new license exemption;
  • An interim final rule refining the USML to remove certain uncrewed underwater vehicles (UUVs);
  • Revisions to country policies, which, among other things: (1) remove Syria from the list of countries subject to a policy of denial; (2) clarify the policy-of-denial framework and update the major non-NATO ally list; and (3) continue the suspension of Cyprus’s status as a proscribed destination for another year;

Taken together, these actions show a consistent push to focus ITAR controls on the most sensitive and sophisticated technologies. They also aim to improve regulatory clarity and reduce burdens on industry. Below, we summarize the key takeaways from each rulemaking based on potential impact to defense trade.

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On August 28, 2026, the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC) published an interim final rule (IFR) easing export controls on certain survivability-enhanced aircraft under the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR). This action substantially relaxes ITAR controls on aircraft that have been modified to incorporate aircraft survivability equipment (ASE), and to exclude from ITAR authorization requirements certain reexports and temporary imports of ASE. This rule intends to both reduce unnecessary compliance burdens on international partners using secured ASE to protect dignitaries and commercial passengers, and remove the competitive disadvantage for U.S. manufacturers relative to foreign manufacturers whose products are not subject to ITAR jurisdiction.

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