Examples of ITAR items
Defense articles and associated technical data are controlled by the U.S. Department of State. The United States Munitions List (USML) found in 22 CFR 121 and the Missile Technology Control Regime Annex (MCTRA) found in 22 CFR 121.16 articulate the defense articles and technical data controlled. In addition to these items, any item, software or technology that is specifically designed, developed, configured, modified or adapted for military or intelligence applications can be considered a defense article. Classified articles and information are also considered defense articles.
The USML is broken into categories which are summarized below:
USML
Category I – Firearms, Close Assault Weapons and Combat Shotguns
Category II – Guns and Armament
Category III – Ammunition/Ordnance
Category IV – Launch Vehicles, Guided Missiles, Ballistic Missiles, Rockets, Torpedoes, Bombs and Mines
Category V – Explosives and Energetic Materials, Propellants, Incendiary Agents and Their Constituents
Category VI – Vessels of War and Special Naval Equipment
Category VII – Tanks and Military Vehicles
Category VII – Aircraft and Associated Equipment
Category VIII – Military Training Equipment and Training
Category X – Protective Personnel Equipment and Shelters
Category XI – Military Electronics
Category XII – Fire Control, Range Finder, Optical and Guidance and Control Equipment
Category XIII – Auxiliary Military Equipment
Category XIV – Toxicological Agents, Including Chemical Agents, Biological Agents, and Associated Equipment
Category XV – Spacecraft Systems and Associated Equipment
Category XVI – Nuclear Weapons, Design and Testing Related Items
Category XVII – Classified Articles, Technical Data, and Defense Services Not Otherwise Enumerated
Category XVIII – Directed Energy Weapons
Category XIX [Reserved]
Category XX – Submersible Vessels, Oceanographic and Associated Equipment
Category XXI – Miscellaneous Articles
Common examples of items that are “defense articles” controlled on the USML include:
- Chemical agents, including nerve agents (sarin, soman, tabun), amiton, vesicant agents (mustards, lewisites, nitrogen mustards) (USML Cat. XIV)
- Biological agents (agents that have been developed, configured, adapted or modified for the purpose of increasing their capability to produce casualties in humans or livestock, or degrade equipment or crops) (USML Cat. XIV)
- Medical countermeasures, vaccines, antidotes and medical diagnostics specifically designed or modified for use with chemical agents and/or biological agents (USML Cat. XIV)
- Body armor, clothing to protect against or reduce detection by radar, infrared or other sensors, goggles, glasses or visors designed to protect against lasers (USML Cat. X)
- Aircraft, helicopters, non-expansive balloons, drones, and lighter-than-air aircraft, specifically designed, modified, or equipped for military purposes (USML Cat. VIII)
