President Donald Trump plans to reinterpret the 1987 Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) so that heavy attack drones like the MQ-9 Reaper are treated as aircraft rather than missile systems, Reuters reported.
The change would relax decades-old restrictions and allow US companies, including General Atomics and Anduril, to expand drone sales abroad. Saudi Arabia is expected to buy more than 100 MQ-9s under a $142bn arms package, with other interested buyers in the Middle East, Eastern Europe, the Pacific, and potentially Ukraine.
Supporters argue the move will strengthen US competitiveness against rivals such as Israel, China, and Turkey, while boosting jobs at home. Critics warn that loosening export limits could fuel regional conflicts and undermine arms-control efforts.
According to Reuters, the reinterpretation comes as part of Trump’s broader push to speed up foreign military sales and expand the US defense industry’s global reach.
