Missile Technology Control Regime

The Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) is an informal grouping of 35 partner countries that coordinate export controls on missiles and uncrewed aerial vehicles able to deliver Weapons of Mass Destruction. The MTCR has no treaty status, so partners take on no legally binding obligations. Partners agree common guidelines and a control list, then apply them through national export licensing.

The G-7 states (Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK and the US) founded it in 1987. Category I covers complete rocket and drone systems able to carry at least 500kg to at least 300km, and carries a strong presumption of denial. Category II covers other complete systems with a range of at least 300km, whatever it carries. There is no secretariat; France acts as the Point of Contact. China is not a partner, but its October 2026 drone export rule uses the same 300km range threshold.

On 15 September 2025 the US State Department said it would review exports of uncrewed aircraft as it reviews manned combat aircraft, rather than as missiles. That extended a 2020 US policy which moved slower Category I drones into Category II. Critics, including the Arms Control Association, say the change weakens consensus-based restraint among the partners.