Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR)
The United States Government has, after careful consideration and subject to
its international treaty obligations, decided that, when considering the transfer
of equipment and technology related to missiles, it will act in accordance with
the attached Guidelines beginning on January 7, 1993. These Guidelines
replace those adopted on April 16, 1987.
GUIDELINES FOR SENSITIVE MISSILE-RELEVANT TRANSFERS
1. The purpose of these Guidelines is to limit the risks of proliferation of
weapons of mass destruction (i.e. nuclear, chemical and biological weapons),
by controlling transfers that could make a contribution to delivery systems
(other than manned aircraft) for such weapons. The Guidelines are not
designed to impede national space programs or international cooperation in
such programs as long as such programs could not contribute to delivery
systems for weapons of mass destruction. These Guidelines, including the
attached Annex, form the basis for controlling transfers to any destination
beyond the Govemment's jurisdiction or control of all delivery systems (other
than manned aircraft) capable of delivering weapons of mass destruction, and
of equipment and technology relevant to missiles whose perfommance in terms
of payload and range exceeds stated parameters. Restraint will be exercised
in the consideration of all transfers of items contained within the Annex and
all such transfers will be considered on a case-by-case basis. The
Government will implement the Guidelines in accordance with national
legislation.
2. The Annex consists of two categories of items, which term includes
equipment and technology. Category I items, all of which are in Annex Items
I and 2, are those items of greatest sensitivity. If a Category I item is
included in a system, that system will also be considered as Category I, except
when the incorporated item cannot be separated, removed or duplicated.
Particular restraint will be exercised in the consideration of Category I
transfers regardless of their purpose, and there will be a strong presumption to
deny such transfers. Particular restraint will also be exercised in the
consideration of transfers of any items in the Annex, or of any missiles
(whether or not in the Annex), if the Government judges, on the basis of all
available, persuasive information, evaluated according to factors including
those in paragraph 3, that they are intended to be used for the delivery of
weapons of mass destruction, and there will be a strong presumption to deny
such transfers. Until further notice, the transfer of Category I production
facilities will not be authorized. The transfer of other Category I items will be
authorized only on rare occasions and where the Government (A) obtains
binding government-to-government undertakings embodying the assurances
from the recipient government called for in paragraph 5 of these Guidelines
and (B) assumes responsibility for taking all steps necessary to ensure that the
item is put only to its stated end-use. It is understood that the decision to
transfer remains the sole and sovereign judgment of the United States
Government.
3. In the evaluation of transfer applications for Annex items, the following
factors will be taken into account:
A. Concerns about the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction;
B. The capabilities and objectives of the missile and space programs of
the recipient state;
C. The significance of the transfer in terms of the potential
development of delivery systems (other than manned aircraft) for weapons of
mass destruction;
D. The assessment of the end-use of the transfers, including the
relevant assurances of the recipient states referred to In sub-paragraphs 5.A
and 5.13 below;
E. The applicability of relevant multilateral agreements.
4. The transfer of design and production technology directly associated with
any items in the Annex will be subject to as great a degree of scrutiny and
control as will the equipment itself, to the extent committed by national
legislation.
5. Where the transfer could contribute to a delivery system for weapons of
mass destruction, the Government will authorize transfers of items in the
Annex only on receipt of appropriate assurances from the government of the
recipient state that:
A. The items will be used only for the purpose stated and that such use
will not be modified nor the items modified or replicated without the prior
consent of the United States Govemment;
B. Neither the items nor replicas nor derivatives thereof will be
retransferred without the consent of the United States Govemment.
6. In furtherance of the effective operation of the Guidelines, the United
States Govemment will, as necessary and appropriate, exchange relevant
infonnation with other governments applying the same Guidelines.
7. The adherence of all States to these Guidelines in the interest of
international peace and security would be welcome.
SUMMARY OF THE BOUIPMENT AND TECHNOLOGY ANNEX
[Only the full text of the Annex is authoritative, and it should be consulted for precise details.]
Category I
-- Complete rocket systems "including ballistic missile systems, space launch
vehicles, and sounding rockets] and unmanned air vehicle systems [including
cruise missile systems, target drones, and reconnaissance drones] capable of
delivering at least a 500 kg payload to a range of at least 300 hen as well as the
specially designed production facilities for these systems.
-- Complete subsystems usable in the systems in Item 1, as follows, as well as
the specially designed production facilities and production equipment therefor:
-- Individual rocket stages;
-- Reentry vehicles;
-- Solid or liquid fuel rocket engines;
-- Guidance sets;
-- Thrust vector controls;
-- Warhead safing, arming, fusing, and firing mechanisms.
Category II
--Propulsion components.
--Propellants and constituents.
--Propellant production technology and equip~nerlt.
--Missile structural composites: production technology and equipment.
--Pyrolytic deposition/densification technology and equipment.
--Structural materials.
--Flight instruments, inertial navigation equipment, software, and production equipment.
--Flight control systems.
--Avionics equipment.
--Launch/ground support equipment and facilities.
--Missile computers.
--Analog-to-digital converters.
--Test facilities and equipment.
--Software and related analog or hybrid computers.
--Reduced observables technology, materials, and devices.
--Nuclear effects protection.
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