Shift in Drone Export Policy to 'Open New Markets,' State Department Says
The State Department is changing the way it treats exports of unmanned drones, a shift that's expected to allow firms to more easily obtain export approvals.
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The announcement shifts how the U.S. previously treated those drones under the Missile Technology Control Regime, the multilateral body that sets strict export requirements over certain missile technology and other defense-related items. As part of the change, the State Department no longer will treat certain advanced unmanned aerial systems like it treats missiles and instead will “review requests to export UAS similar to how it reviews requests” to export fighter jets.
“By treating arms transfer reviews of UAS in a similar manner to manned fighter aircraft, the Department will be able to more efficiently adjudicate foreign defense sales requests, opening new markets for the U.S. UAS industry,” it said. “Exports will continue to be consistent with U.S. national security and foreign policy interests.”
The change follows an executive order issued by President Donald Trump in April, which directed agencies to reduce regulatory restrictions around sales of weapons and other military items to U.S. partners (see 2504100009). “This policy shift supports the President’s objective to maintain the world’s strongest and most technologically advanced military through a dynamic defense industrial base, and a robust network of capable partners and allies.”
The State Department said it will continue to make sure its arms transfer review policies “are implemented in a manner that does not contribute to the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction or their delivery systems.” Although the change allows the U.S. to avoid more strict controls set out in the Missile Technology Control Regime, the agency said the regime “remains an important component of U.S. national security policy by preventing the proliferation of missiles and related technologies that adversaries could use against the United States and its allies.”
The State Department added that it “will continue to provide appropriate scrutiny and review all sales on a case-by-case basis pursuant to the U.S. Conventional Arms Transfer Policy, which accounts for nonproliferation factors.”
Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., welcomed the announcement and said Congress should pass the Leading Exports of Aerial Drones Act, or Lead Act, which would make the drone export policy change permanent. Cotton introduced the bill with Sens. Chris Coons, D-Del., and John Cornyn, R-Texas, in July (see 2507240052).
The State Department’s decision “will benefit American workers and businesses, while not ceding the global market to China,” Cotton wrote on X. “Congress should pass my Lead Act and codify this change into law for good.”