Special to WorldTribune.com

WASHINGTON — The United States has significantly eased restrictions
on military aircraft exports in what could benefit Arab allies in the Middle
East.

The administration of President Barack Obama has released a draft that
would transfer responsibility for military aircraft from the
State Department to the Commerce Department. Under the administration plan,
welcomed by the defense industry, military fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft
would move from the U.S. Munitions List to the Commerce Control List.

“It’s imperative for the administration, Congress and industry to work
together to streamline trade with our close allies and partners while
continuing to deny access to sensitive U.S. technology by our adversaries,”
Aerospace Industry Association chief executive officer Marion Blakey said.
“We welcome the opportunity to provide comments on how to improve the
proposed revisions.”

Officials said the export rules would streamline aircraft and other
military exports to U.S. allies, particularly in the Middle East. They said
several Gulf Cooperation Council states, particularly Saudi Arabia and the
United Arab Emirates, have complained of the slow pace of licensing approval
for arms sales.

The Munitions List contains a range of categories. In July, the
administration moved Category 7, comprised of main battle tanks and combat
vehicles, from the Munitions List to the much more liberal Commerce Control
List.

On Nov. 7, the White House said aircraft exports, listed as Category 8,
would also come under Commerce Department control. Officials said this would
expand opportunities for the U.S. defense industry to export such platforms
as the F-16 of Lockheed Martin and the F/A-18 of Boeing.

“The proposed revisions to Category 8 replace vague regulatory language
with greater specificity for items remaining on the USML and the creation of
new, stronger controls for items moved to the CCL — a proposal that AIA
made early in the Obama administration,” AIA said on Nov. 7.

Officials said the proposed changes would be studied by Congress as well
as the aerospace and defense industry. They said current export controls
were deemed inefficient and a barrier to foreign sales at a time when
Washington was searching for revenue for its own military.

“Defense trade operating under improved, appropriate scrutiny supports
interoperability with our close allies and partners, reduces unit costs for
our own military and helps support a defense industrial base facing
significant budget cuts,” AIA said.

  Aerospace Industry Association, Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Obama streamlines military exports to Gulf states, State Department