The State Department filed a proposed rule on September 30, 2026, to amend the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) by removing certain items from the Munitions List and adding license exemptions for repair exports. The agency assessed that the items proposed for removal no longer provide a critical military or intelligence advantage.

The proposal seeks to remove smooth-bore, fixed-barrel canister launchers from U.S. Munitions List Category II(a)(4). It also proposes removing most radar altimeters from U.S. Munitions List Category VIII(h)(10).

Certain ocular protective equipment, including goggles and filters, would be removed from U.S. Munitions List Category X(a)(7). The proposed rule adds a license exemption for the temporary export of foreign defense articles for servicing or repair.

Comments may be submitted via Regulations.gov under docket number DOS-2026-0991 or by email to DDTCPublicComments@state.gov. The proposed rule does not modify the list of defense articles and defense services controlled for permanent import on the U.S. Munitions Import List.

The rule adds paragraphs (b)(7) and (b)(8) to the definition of 'specially designed' in the International Traffic in Arms Regulations. It also proposes restructuring and relocating the definition of 'defense article' from section 120.31(b) to new paragraphs in section 120.35.

The proposed rule revises the definition of 'defense service' in section 120.32 by adding a cross-reference to proposed section 120.35. These regulatory adjustments accompany the changes to the munitions list categories.

Why It Matters

Section 38 of the Arms Export Control Act (AECA) mandates periodic review of the U.S. Munitions List (USML) to determine which items no longer warrant ITAR control. Congress directed in 2026 that this process ensure the list focuses solely on 'most sensitive and sophisticated technologies.'

The Department of Defense has historically concurred with State Department assessments on USML revisions. This alignment was seen in the 2026 modification of USML Category XX(a)(10) to exclude unmanned underwater vehicles under 8,000 pounds unless specially designed.

Timeline

On September 30, 2026, the State Department proposed removing certain ocular protective equipment, including goggles and filters, from U.S. Munitions List Category X(a)(7). On the same date, the proposed rule added paragraphs (b)(7) and (b)(8) to the definition of 'specially designed' in the International Traffic in Arms Regulations.

Also on September 30, 2026, the State Department proposed removing most radar altimeters from U.S. Munitions List Category VIII(h)(10). The agency assessed that the items proposed for removal from the U.S. Munitions List no longer provide a critical military or intelligence advantage. The State Department filed the proposed rule on September 30, 2026, with document number 2026-20079.

The State Department proposed removing smooth-bore, fixed-barrel canister launchers from U.S. Munitions List Category II(a)(4) on September 30, 2026. The agency requested public comments on the proposed rule within 60 days of its publication in the Federal Register. The proposed rule added a license exemption for the temporary export of foreign defense articles for servicing or repair on September 30, 2026.

What's New

The State Department added two new license exemptions to ITAR in 2026, expanding permitted activities for UUVs and aircraft survivability equipment, building on prior exemptions for defense article servicing. In 2024, the State Department proposed revisions to USML Categories IV and XV to clarify regulatory text and add license exemptions, indicating ongoing efforts to modernize ITAR controls.

The State Department previously added a license exemption for unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs) in 2025, allowing temporary exports for scientific research and commercial operations under ITAR §126.9(u). The State Department previously proposed ITAR revisions for USML Categories I, II, and III in 2018, seeking public comment on proposed changes to defense article classifications.

The Department of Defense has historically concurred with State Department assessments on USML revisions, as seen in the 2026 modification of USML Category XX(a)(10) to exclude UUVs under 8,000 pounds unless specially designed. In 2024, the State Department proposed revising USML Categories IV and XV to clarify regulatory text, add items to the list, and remove outdated entries, demonstrating a recurring pattern of ITAR modernization.

The State Department previously removed silencers and sound suppressors from USML Category I(e) in 2026, citing their lack of critical military or intelligence advantage, as part of broader USML streamlining efforts. The Arms Export Control Act (AECA) mandates periodic review of the U.S. Munitions List (USML) to ensure it focuses solely on 'most sensitive and sophisticated technologies,' as directed by Congress in 2026.

How Sources Differ

The State Department Proposed Rule 2026-20079 states that the agency requests public comments on the proposed rule within 60 days of its publication in the Federal Register.