Military electronics — USML Category XI
Controls underwater sensing, acoustic countermeasures and radar electronics that meet named frequency, bandwidth and tracking parameters.
The entry, quoted as it reads today
(a) Electronic equipment and systems not included in Category XII of the U.S. Munitions List, as follows: * (1) Underwater hardware, equipment, or systems, as follows: (i) Active or passive acoustic array sensing systems or acoustic array equipment capable of real-time processing that survey or detect, and also track, localize ( i.e., determine range and bearing), classify, or identify, surface vessels, submarines, other undersea vehicles, torpedoes, or mines, having any of the following: (A) Multi-static capability; (B) Operating frequency less than 20 kHz; or (C) Operating bandwidth greater than 10 kHz; (ii) Underwater single acoustic sensor system that distinguishes non-biologic tonals and locates the origin of the sound; Note to paragraph( a )(1)( ii ): The term tonals implies discrete frequencies in the broadband and narrowband spectra, emanating from man-made objects. (iii) Non-acoustic systems that survey or detect, and also track, localize ( i.e., determine range and bearing), classify, or identify, surface vessels, submarines, other undersea vehicles, torpedoes, or mines; (iv) Acoustic modems, networks, and communications equipment with real-time adaptive compensation or employing Low Probability of Intercept (LPI); Note to paragraph ( a )(1)( iv ): Adaptive compensation is the capability of an underwater modem to assess the water conditions to select the best algorithm to receive and transmit data. (v) Low Frequency/Very Low Frequency (LF/VLF) electronic modems, routers, interfaces, and communications equipment, specially designed for submarine communications; or (vi) Autonomous systems and equipment that enable cooperative sensing and engagement by fixed (bottom mounted/seabed) or mobile Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs); * (2) Underwater acoustic countermeasures or counter-countermeasures systems or equipment; * (3) Radar systems and equipment, as follows: (i) Airborne radar that maintains positional state of an object or objects of interest, other than weather phenomena, in a received radar signal through time; Note to paragraph ( a )(3)( i ): This paragraph does not control radars that: (1) Are incapable of free space detection of 1 square meter Radar Cross Section (RCS) target beyond 8 nautical miles (nmi); (2) contain a radar update rate of not more than 1Hz; and (3) employ a design determined to be subject to the EAR via a commodity juri
Corpus last verified 2026-08-29. Skenai never shows unquoted regulation.
In plain language
Category XI(a) picks up electronic equipment and systems that are not already covered by Category XII. The first block is underwater: acoustic arrays, single-sensor tonal locators, non-acoustic detection systems, acoustic modems and submarine communications equipment. Autonomous underwater vehicles that enable cooperative sensing and engagement appear here too.
Sonar paragraphs turn on measurable parameters rather than on the customer. A controlled array must survey or detect, and also track, localise, classify or identify vessels. It must also be multi-static, operate below 20 kHz, or have bandwidth above 10 kHz.
The radar block covers airborne radar that maintains the positional state of an object through time, other than weather phenomena. A note carves out radar that cannot detect a 1 square metre target beyond 8 nautical miles. That radar must also update at 1 Hz or less and hold an EAR design determination.
The questions this entry turns on
- 01Does the acoustic array both detect and then track, localise, classify or identify a vessel, torpedo or mine?
- 02Is the sonar multi-static, operating below 20 kHz, or operating with bandwidth greater than 10 kHz?
- 03Does the acoustic modem use real-time adaptive compensation or low probability of intercept techniques?
- 04Does the airborne radar maintain the positional state of a non-weather object through time?
- 05Does the radar note exclusion apply in full: no free-space detection of a 1 square metre target beyond 8 nmi, update rate of 1 Hz or less, and an EAR design determination?
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What typically falls in, and what typically falls out
Typically in
- A towed acoustic array operating below 20 kHz that classifies surface and subsurface contacts, typically reading onto (a)(1)(i)
- An LPI acoustic modem for coordinating an AUV fleet, typically caught by paragraph (a)(1)(iv)
- An airborne tracking radar that holds target state through time well beyond 8 nautical miles, typically caught by (a)(3)(i)
Typically out
- A 200 kHz recreational fish finder, which typically sits far above the stated frequency thresholds and does not track contacts
- An airborne weather radar, which typically falls under the weather phenomena carve-out
- An off-the-shelf ISM-band telemetry radio for a ground robot, which is typically not underwater or radar equipment at all
These are typical cases, not determinations. Which side a specific product lands on turns on the answers in the Interview.
Adjacent entries
- Imaging systems under fire control, laser, imaging and guidance equipment — USML Category XII22 CFR 121.1, Category XII(c)
- Information security systems and equipment — ECCN 5A00215 CFR 774, Supplement No. 1, ECCN 5A002
- Specially designed — 22 CFR 120.4122 CFR 120.41
Does your product land on this entry?
The Interview asks 5 to 9 questions, only the ones this entry turns on, and names the Determination free. The Dossier is the dated, cited record of how it was reached.
Free, no account. Dossier $249 if you want the record.