22 CFR § 126.9 - Exemptions for certain activities involving defense articles.

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t22/s126.9"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "22 CFR § 126.9 - Exemptions for certain activities involving defense articles."
title_number: 22
title_name: "Foreign Relations"
section_number: "126.9"
section_name: "Exemptions for certain activities involving defense articles."
chapter_name: "DEPARTMENT OF STATE"
subchapter_number: "M"
subchapter_name: "INTERNATIONAL TRAFFIC IN ARMS REGULATIONS"
part_number: "126"
part_name: "GENERAL POLICIES AND PROVISIONS"
positive_law: false
currency: "2026-03-24"
last_updated: "2026-03-24"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
authority: "22 U.S.C. 287c, 2651a, 2752, 2753, 2776, 2778, 2779, 2779a, 2780, 2791, 2797, 10423; sec. 1225, Pub. L. 108-375, 118 Stat. 2091; sec. 7045, Pub. L. 112-74, 125 Stat. 1232; sec. 1250A, Pub. L 116-92, 133 Stat. 1665; sec. 205, Pub. L. 116-94, 133 Stat. 3052; and E.O. 13637, 78 FR 16129, 3 CFR, 2013 Comp., p. 223."
regulatory_source: "58 FR 39312, July 22, 1993, unless otherwise noted."
cfr_part: "126"
---


# 126.9 Exemptions for certain activities involving defense articles.

(a)-(t) [Reserved]

(u) *Exemption for certain large Unmanned Underwater Vehicle (UUV) activities*—(1) *Activities exempted.* No license or other approval is required for the following activities, subject to the restrictions in paragraph (u)(2) of this section:

(i) The temporary export, reexport, or temporary import of vessels described in USML Category XX(a)(10);

(ii) The furnishing of assistance to a foreign person in the maintenance, repair, operation, or use of a defense article described in USML Category XX(a)(10); or

(iii) Brokering activities to facilitate:

(A) The temporary export, reexport, or permanent import of vessels described in USML Category XX(a)(10); or

(B) The furnishing of assistance to a foreign person in the maintenance, repair, operation, or use of a defense article described in USML Category XX(a)(10).

(2) *Restrictions.* The exemption set forth in this paragraph (u) is subject to all of the following restrictions:

(i) The vessel must not be described in any USML paragraph other than Category XX(a)(10);

(ii) The vessel must not have a gross weight rating (as defined in § 121.0 of this subchapter) exceeding eight thousand pounds (8,000 lb);

(iii) The purpose of the activity must be limited to one or more of the following:

(A) Scientific research or natural resource exploration;

(B) Commercial or civil infrastructure maintenance, installation, or repair; or

(C) Search and rescue operations; and

(iv) The activity must not transfer registration, control, or ownership of the vessel to a foreign person.

[90 FR 41788, Aug. 27, 2025]