U.S. eases export policy for drones to boost competitiveness

[MQ-9 Reaper Flying at White Sands]
BlueBarronPhoto/iStock Editorial via Getty Images

The Trump administration has eased the export policy for drones to "advance U.S. competitiveness abroad for unmanned systems," the State Department announced on Monday.

"The Department will now review requests to export unmanned aerial systems similar to how it reviews requests to export manned fighter aircraft," its Bureau of Political-Military Affairs stated.

This means that advanced military drones - like the MQ-9 Reaper manufactured by General Atomics - will be treated like fighter jets rather than missile systems.

"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," the agency said [https://www.state.gov/releases/bureau-of-political-military-affairs/2025/09/u-s-policy-update-on-the-export-of-unmanned-aerial-systems/].

The move allows the U.S. to sidestep the Missile Technology Control Regime, which was established in 1987 to control exports of missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles.

The updated policy unlocks the sale of more than 100 MQ-9 drones to Saudi Arabia, _Reuters _reported [https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/us-reinterprets-arms-control-pact-ease-military-drone-exports-2025-09-15/], which the kingdom requested in the spring.

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