in effect
This is a final rule from the U.S. Department of State that amends the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) by updating the U.S. Munitions List (USML) — the official list of defense articles and services that require a State Department license to export. It finalizes and partially revises an interim rule published January 17, 2025, and takes effect September 15, 2025.
Several items are removed from the USML and shifted to the less restrictive Commerce Department export controls, including common lead-free birdshot ammunition, GPS anti-jamming and anti-spoofing systems, and certain controlled reception pattern antennas. New items added to the USML include parts and components specially designed for the F-47 Next Generation Air Dominance fighter aircraft, and large unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs) weighing over 3,000 pounds that can operate without human interaction for more than 24 hours or travel more than 70 nautical miles. A new license exemption (22 CFR §126.9(u)) is created allowing temporary export of UUVs under 8,000 pounds for scientific research and specified commercial uses — such as oceanographic surveys and infrastructure inspection — without requiring a full individual license, provided ownership does not transfer to a foreign person. Existing ITAR licenses covering items that move off the USML remain valid for up to three years from the September 15, 2025 effective date.
U.S. companies and individuals who manufacture, export, broker, or provide services involving defense articles on the USML must review whether their products now fall on or off the list, and update their licenses or agreements accordingly. Companies operating large autonomous underwater vehicles for commercial or research purposes — such as oceanographic firms and oil and gas survey operators — are directly affected, as those vehicles may now require State Department authorization or qualify for the new exemption. Defense contractors involved with advanced military aircraft programs, particularly those supplying parts for the F-47, face new USML controls on specially designed components.