The US Munitions List Category VIII covers the following defense articles, services, and related technical data:
Aircraft and associated equipment
If you selected Category VIII on the Manage United States Munitions List screen, then you can choose the corresponding USML sub-category details from the table below
An asterisk precedes certain defense articles in the following list. The asterisk means that the article is deemed to be "Significant Military Equipment" to the extent specified in § 120.7 of the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) issued by the Department of State Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC).
Sub-Category |
Description |
a |
* (a) Aircraft, including but not limited to helicopters, non-expansive balloons, drones, and lighter-than-air aircraft, which are specifically designed, modified, or equipped for military purposes. This includes but is not limited to the following military purposes: Gunnery, bombing, rocket or missile launching, electronic and other surveillance, reconnaissance, refueling, aerial mapping, military liaison, cargo carrying or dropping, personnel dropping, airborne warning and control, and military training. (See § 121.3.) |
b |
* (b) Military aircraft engines, except reciprocating engines, specifically designed or modified for the aircraft in paragraph (a) of this category, and all specifically designed military hot section components (i.e., combustion chambers and liners; high pressure turbine blades, vanes, disks and related cooled structure; cooled low pressure turbine blades, vanes, disks and related cooled structure; cooled augmenters; and cooled nozzles) and digital engine controls (e.g., Full Authority Digital Engine Controls (FADEC) and Digital Electronic Engine Controls (DEEC)). However, if such military hot section components and digital engine controls are manufactured to engineering drawings dated on or before January 1, 1970, with no subsequent changes or revisions to such drawings, they are controlled under Category VIII(h). |
c |
* (c) Cartridge-actuated devices utilized in emergency escape of personnel and airborne equipment (including but not limited to airborne refueling equipment) specifically designed or modified for use with the aircraft and engines of the types in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this category. |
d |
(d) Launching and recovery equipment for the articles in paragraph (a) of this category, if the equipment is specifically designed or modified for military use. Fixed land-based arresting gear is not included in this category. |
e |
* (e) Inertial navigation systems, aided or hybrid inertial navigation systems, Inertial Measurement Units (IMUs), and Attitude and Heading Reference Systems (AHRS) specifically designed, modified, or configured for military use and all specifically designed components, parts and accessories. For other inertial reference systems and related components refer to Category XII(d). (1) Category XII(d) or Category VIII(e) does not include quartz rate sensors if such items: (i) Are integrated into and included as an integral part of a commercial primary or commercial standby instrument system for use on civil aircraft prior to export or exported solely for integration into such a commercial primary or standby instrument system, and (ii) When the exporter has been informed in writing by the Department of State that a specific quartz rate sensor integrated into a commercial primary or standby instrument system has been determined to be subject to the licensing jurisdiction of the Department of Commerce in accordance with this section. (2) For controls in these circumstances, see the Commerce Control List. In all other circumstances, quartz rate sensors remain under the licensing jurisdiction of the Department of State under Category XII(d) or Category VIII(e) of the U.S. Munitions List and subject to the controls of the ITAR. |
f |
(f) Developmental aircraft, engines, and components thereof specifically designed, modified, or equipped for military uses or purposes, or developed principally with U.S. Department of Defense funding, excluding such aircraft, engines, and components subject to the jurisdiction of the Department of Commerce. Developmental aircraft, engines, and components thereof, having no commercial application at the time of this amendment and which have been specifically designed for military uses or purposes, or developed principally with U.S. Department of Defense funding, will be considered eligible for a CCL license when actually applied to a commercial aircraft or commercial aircraft engine program. Exporters may seek to establish commercial application either on a case-bycase basis through submission of documentation demonstrating application to a commercial program in requesting an export license application from Commerce in respect of a specific export or, in the case of use for broad categories of aircraft, engines, or components, a commodity jurisdiction from State. |
g |
* (g) Ground effect machines (GEMS) specifically designed or modified for military use, including but not limited to surface effect machines and other air cushion vehicles, and all components, parts, and accessories, attachments, and associated equipment specifically designed or modified for use with such machines. |
h |
(h) Components, parts, accessories, attachments, and associated equipment (including ground support equipment) specifically designed or modified for the articles in paragraphs (a) through (d) of this category, excluding aircraft tires and propellers used with reciprocating engines. The Export Administration Regulations (EAR) administered by the Department of Commerce control any component, part, accessory, attachment, and associated equipment (including propellers) designed exclusively for civil, non-military aircraft (see § 121.3 of this subchapter for the definition of military aircraft) and control any component, part, accessory, attachment, and associated equipment designed exclusively for civil, non-military aircraft engines. The International Traffic in Arms Regulations administered by the Department of State control any component, part, accessory, attachment, and associated equipment designed, developed, configured, adapted or modified for military aircraft, and control any component, part, accessory, attachment, and associated equipment designed, developed, configured, adapted or modified for military aircraft engines. For components and parts that do not meet the above criteria, including those that may be used on either civil or military aircraft, the following requirements apply. A non-SME component or part (as defined in §§ 121.8(b) and (d) of this subchapter) that is not controlled under another category of the USML, that: (a) Is standard equipment; (b) is covered by a civil aircraft type certificate (including amended type certificates and supplemental type certificates) issued by the Federal Aviation Administration for a civil, non-military aircraft (this expressly excludes military aircraft certified as restricted and any type certification of Military Commercial Derivative Aircraft); and (c) is an integral part of such civil aircraft, is subject to the jurisdiction of the EAR. In the case of any part or component designated as SME in this or any other USML category, a determination that such item may be excluded from USML coverage based on the three criteria above always requires a commodity jurisdiction determination by the Department of State under § 120.4 of this subchapter. The only exception to this requirement is where a part or component designated as SME in this category was integral to civil aircraft prior to August 14, 2008. For such part or component, U.S. exporters are not required to seek a commodity jurisdiction determination from State, unless doubt exists as to whether the item meets the three criteria above (See § 120.3 and § 120.4 of this subchapter). Also, U.S. exporters are not required to seek a commodity jurisdiction determination from State regarding any non-SME component or part (as defined in §§ 121.8(b) and (d) of this subchapter) that is not controlled under another category of the USML, unless doubt exists as to whether the item meets the three criteria above (See § 120.3 and § 120.4 of this subchapter). These commodity jurisdiction determinations will ensure compliance with this section and the criteria of Section 17(c) of the Export Administration Act of 1979. In determining whether the three criteria above have been met, consider whether the same item is common to both civil and military applications without modification of the item’s form, fit, or function. Some examples of parts or components that are not common to both civil and military applications are tail hooks, rotodomes, and low observable rotor blades. ‘‘Standard equipment’’ is defined as a part or component manufactured in compliance with an established and published industry specification or an established and published government specification (e.g., AN, MS, NAS, or SAE). Parts and components that are manufactured and tested to established but unpublished civil aviation industry specifications and standards are also ‘‘standard equipment,’’ e.g., pumps, actuators, and generators. A part or component is not standard equipment if there are any performance, manufacturing or testing requirements beyond such specifications and standards. Simply testing a part or component to meet a military specification or standard for civil purposes does not in and of itself change the jurisdiction of such part or component. Integral is defined as a part or component that is installed in an aircraft. In determining whether a part or component may be considered as standard equipment and integral to a civil aircraft (e.g., latches, fasteners, grommets, and switches) it is important to carefully review all of the criteria noted above. For example, a part approved solely on a non-interference/provisions basis under a type certificate issued by the Federal Aviation Administration would not qualify. Similarly, unique application parts or components not integral to the aircraft would also not qualify. |
i |
(i) Technical data (as defined in § 120.10) and defense services (as defined in § 120.9) directly related to the defense articles enumerated in paragraphs (a) through (h) of this category (see § 125.4 for exemptions), except for hot section technical data associated with commercial aircraft engines. Technical data directly related to the manufacture or production of any defense articles enumerated elsewhere in this category that are designated as Significant Military Equipment (SME) shall itself be designated SME. |