Export Controls: Issues Concerning Sensitive Stealth-Related Items and Technologies

Abstract

The challenge to DOD in maintaining technologically superior weapon systems in this dual-use environment is that these technologies may become available to potential U. S. adversaries. The government's export control system has always been faced with the difficulty of balancing the legitimate need for and benefits of U.S. exports, while ensuring national security interests are protected. My testimony today will provide an example of one technology area--low observables or "stealth"--which illustrates the difficulty of maintaining this balance. We focused our work on one aspect of stealth technology--radar signature reduction. Specifically, we examined (1) how export controls over stealth technology and related commodities are split between the State Department's U.S. Munitions List (USML) and the Commerce Control List (CCL), (2) the impact of shared jurisdiction over stealth-related items, and (3) whether current referral procedures allow DOD to review all militarily sensitive stealth exports.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
May 11, 1995
Accession Number
AD1171738

Entities

People

  • David E. Cooper

Organizations

  • United States Government Accountability Office

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Counter WMD
  • Ground and Sea Platforms

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Aircrafts
  • Commerce
  • Commodities
  • Control Systems
  • Department Of Defense
  • Department Of State
  • Export Controls
  • Exports
  • Materials
  • Military Aircraft
  • Military Applications
  • National Security
  • Radar Cross Sections
  • Radar Signatures
  • Security
  • Signature Reduction
  • Stealth Technology
  • United States
  • Weapons

Readers

  • Economics
  • International Relations and European Studies
  • Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) Autonomous Capabilities and Mission Reconnaissance.