# ITAR United States Munitions List (USML) Categories Reference > Source: https://netray.co/tools/itar-usml-categories-reference > Publisher: Netray (netray.co), AI and integration engineering for ERP and manufacturing systems. > Section: Free Tools ## Short answer All 21 USML categories with their official titles and a plain summary of what a machine shop, electronics house or software team should look for. ## Category aerospace-defense ## Industry Aerospace & Defense ## Audience - Export compliance officer - Contracts manager - Engineer ## Tool **Kind:** worksheet **Mode:** reference **Columns:** #### Category **Key:** cat **Type:** text #### Title **Key:** title **Type:** text #### What it broadly covers **Key:** scope **Type:** text #### Supplier note **Key:** note **Type:** text **Rows:** #### Firearms and Related Articles **Cat:** I **Scope:** Firearms, close assault weapons, combat shotguns and related parts and accessories **Note:** Machined receivers and parts can be in scope #### Guns and Armament **Cat:** II **Scope:** Guns, howitzers, mortars, launchers, gun mounts and related components **Note:** Barrels and breech components are common shop work #### Ammunition and Ordnance **Cat:** III **Scope:** Ammunition, fuzes, ordnance components and related manufacturing equipment **Note:** Includes some production tooling and technical data #### Launch Vehicles, Guided Missiles, Ballistic Missiles, Rockets, Torpedoes, Bombs and Mines **Cat:** IV **Scope:** Missiles, rockets, torpedoes, bombs, mines and their specially designed components **Note:** Airframe sections, fins and housings fall here #### Explosives and Energetic Materials, Propellants, Incendiary Agents and Their Constituents **Cat:** V **Scope:** Military explosives, propellants and energetic materials **Note:** Relevant to chemical and materials suppliers #### Surface Vessels of War and Special Naval Equipment **Cat:** VI **Scope:** Warships, naval equipment and specially designed components **Note:** Marine electronics and fittings may be captured #### Ground Vehicles **Cat:** VII **Scope:** Military ground vehicles, tanks, combat support vehicles and components **Note:** Drivetrain and armor parts are typical #### Aircraft and Related Articles **Cat:** VIII **Scope:** Military aircraft, unmanned aircraft and specially designed parts **Note:** Brackets, harnesses and structures built to military design #### Military Training Equipment and Training **Cat:** IX **Scope:** Training devices, simulators and associated technical data **Note:** Simulation software and hardware #### Personal Protective Equipment, Shelters and Related Equipment **Cat:** X **Scope:** Body armor, helmets, shelters and protective equipment **Note:** Advanced materials and composites #### Military Electronics **Cat:** XI **Scope:** Electronic combat, radar, command and control, communications, underwater acoustics and specially designed electronics **Note:** Core category for defense electronics and PCB assembly houses #### Fire Control, Laser, Imaging and Guidance Equipment **Cat:** XII **Scope:** Fire control systems, lasers, infrared and night vision, guidance and navigation equipment **Note:** Optics, sensors and fiber based subsystems #### Materials and Miscellaneous Articles **Cat:** XIII **Scope:** Military materials, armor, cameras for military use, information security systems and equipment **Note:** Includes XIII(b) information security items #### Toxicological Agents, Including Chemical Agents, Biological Agents and Associated Equipment **Cat:** XIV **Scope:** Chemical and biological agents, detection and protective equipment **Note:** Specialized suppliers only #### Spacecraft and Related Articles **Cat:** XV **Scope:** Satellites, spacecraft, ground control and related components **Note:** Space qualified components and technical data #### Nuclear Weapons Related Articles **Cat:** XVI **Scope:** Nuclear weapons design, testing and related equipment **Note:** Rarely seen by commercial suppliers #### Classified Articles, Technical Data and Defense Services Not Otherwise Enumerated **Cat:** XVII **Scope:** Classified items not covered by another category **Note:** Handled under security regulations as well #### Directed Energy Weapons **Cat:** XVIII **Scope:** Lasers and high energy weapon systems and related components **Note:** Power electronics and optics #### Gas Turbine Engines and Associated Equipment **Cat:** XIX **Scope:** Military gas turbine engines and specially designed parts **Note:** Rotating parts and engine controls #### Submersible Vessels and Related Articles **Cat:** XX **Scope:** Submarines, submersibles and related equipment **Note:** Pressure hull fittings and electronics #### Articles, Technical Data and Defense Services Not Otherwise Enumerated **Cat:** XXI **Scope:** Reserved for items designated by DDTC that do not fit another category **Note:** Use only when directed **Notes:** Summaries are simplified and category scope is defined by the text of 22 CFR 121.1, including technical data and defense services in paragraph (x) catch-alls and the specially designed definition in 120. A summary here does not classify a part. If you are unsure, apply the order of review and consider a commodity jurisdiction request. ## Content **Intro:** The US Munitions List in 22 CFR 121.1 sets what is controlled by the International Traffic in Arms Regulations. This table lists all 21 categories with their titles and a plain summary so a buyer, engineer or compliance owner can see where a product might sit. **Sections:** #### How to use the list **Body:** Search for the platform, such as aircraft or radar, or for the function, such as night vision or encryption. Find candidate categories, then read the actual USML entry for the paragraph that matches your part. The category is only the start. Most classification work happens at the paragraph level and depends on defined terms such as specially designed. Export the rows you care about to Excel and add a column that records the paragraph and reasoning for each classified part. #### ITAR versus EAR: which one first **Body:** The order of review in the EAR says to check the USML first. If an item is described in a USML category, it is subject to the ITAR and not the Commerce Control List. If it is not, you then check the CCL and finally treat it as EAR99. Parts built to a military drawing for a defense program often land in Category VIII or XI because of their specially designed status, even when a similar commercial part would not be controlled. **Bullets:** - USML first, CCL second, EAR99 last - Specially designed parts and components follow their parent article - Technical data and defense services are controlled as well as hardware #### What registration and agreements follow **Body:** Manufacturing or exporting defense articles generally requires registration with the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls under Part 122. Exports then need a license or an exemption, and defense services to foreign persons usually need an agreement. Even a domestic supplier that only machines parts for a prime may need to register if it manufactures defense articles. Records of these decisions belong in your compliance system, linked to the item master. #### Common mistakes **Body:** The common errors are assuming only complete weapons are controlled, forgetting that technical data such as drawings is itself an ITAR item, and classifying from a part description instead of the paragraph text. Teams also treat a prime contractor's marking as proof of classification. Ask the customer for the jurisdiction and classification in writing, and keep your own analysis. **Cta:** If you hold jurisdiction and classification in spreadsheets today, we can build a private view that links each ERP item to its USML or ECCN decision and flags foreign ship-to orders. The lookup works without it. **Faq:** #### How many USML categories are there? **Answer:** There are 21 categories numbered I through XXI. Several have been revised under export control reform, and some paragraphs now point to the EAR 600 series. Always check the current text of 22 CFR 121.1 for the paragraph that applies to your item. #### Which category covers defense electronics? **Answer:** Category XI is Military Electronics, covering items such as radar, electronic combat and military communications gear. Related items can sit in Category XII for fire control and imaging, or Category VIII for aircraft electronics. The parent platform and paragraph wording determine the answer. #### Is a drawing for an ITAR part controlled? **Answer:** Yes. Technical data directly related to a defense article is itself controlled under the ITAR. Sending drawings or specifications to a foreign person, including by email or cloud storage, can be an export that needs authorization. #### Can I self classify my product? **Answer:** You can and usually must perform your own analysis. If the result is unclear, DDTC accepts a commodity jurisdiction request to decide whether an item is ITAR or EAR. Document your reasoning and keep it on file whichever way you decide. ## Search terms usml categories list, itar usml category xi military electronics, 22 cfr 121.1 categories, usml category viii aircraft, itar category xii fire control, what is on the us munitions list, usml category cheat sheet, itar commodity jurisdiction categories --- Talk to an engineer: https://netray.co/contact?intent=erp_ai | Machine catalog: https://netray.co/agent/catalog.json