Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
U.S. Export Policy Allows Wider Unmanned Aircraft Sales
The U.S. State Department announced a new export policy that provides for the sale of U.S.-made military and commercial drones overseas.
The new U.S. export policy allows for the wider sale to other countries of armed drones, such as the MQ-9 Reaper. (Photo: U.S. Air Force)
The new U.S. export policy allows for the wider sale to other countries of armed drones, such as the MQ-9 Reaper. (Photo: U.S. Air Force)

The U.S. State Department on February 17 announced a new export policy that provides for the sale of U.S.-made military and commercial unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) to other nations on a case-by-case basis, a broader accommodation than it previously allowed. The policy requires recipient nations to agree to “end use assurances” as a condition of sale.

The result of an internal review and a product of the Obama administration’s export control reform effort, the liberalized policy establishes standards by which the government will assess potential exports of military UAS, including armed systems, to nations other than close allies. It “provides a disciplined and rigorous framework within which the United States will exercise restraint in sales and transfers and advance its national security and foreign policy interests,” the State Department said.