New and updated ECJU General Licences for defence export collaboration

The Export Control Joint Unit (ECJU) has updated the Open General Licence (Global Combat Air Programme) and introduced a new Open General Export Licence (Agreement on Defence Export Controls ‘De-Minimis’ Exports).

These measures support defence collaboration with close international partners by providing simplified licensing arrangements while maintaining the UK’s robust export controls. Details on the new measures can be found in the Notice to Exporters linked below. 

The following are now available on GOV.UK:

• Notice to exporters 2026/19
• Updated Open General Licence (Global Combat Air Programme)
• New Open General Export Licence (Agreement on Defence Export Controls: ‘De-Minimis’ Exports)
• Updated guidance on Agreement on Defence Export Controls reflecting the changes and updates

Contact ECJU for queries about strategic export licensing via email at exportcontrol.help@businessandtrade.gov.uk 

Here’s the Notice to Exporters:

Notice

NTE 2026/19: Updated OGL (Global Combat Air Programme) and new OGEL: Agreement on Defence Export Controls ‘De-Minimis’ Exports

Published 9 September 2026

Introduction

The Export Control Joint Unit (ECJU) has updated the existing GCAP Open General Licence and introduced a new Open General Export Licence for the Defence Export Controls Agreement.

• Updated Open General Licence (Global Combat Air Programme) to support the next phase of the programme, including new supply-chain destinations.
• New Open General Export Licence: Agreement on Defence Export Controls ‘De-Minimis’ Exports, to support eligible exports under Article 3 of the Agreement on Defence Export Controls.

Both measures aim to support defence collaboration with close partners and provide simplified licensing arrangements, while maintaining the UK’s robust export controls.

Exporters should review the relevant licence carefully and ensure that they can comply with all applicable terms and conditions before using it. Where the conditions of either licence cannot be met, exporters may use an alternative licensing route.

Updated Open General Licence (Global Combat Air Programme)

The Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) is a joint programme between the UK, Japan and Italy to develop a next-generation combat aircraft.

The previous GCAP Open General Licence (OGL), first published in August 2024, has been updated to reflect the programme’s progression into its next phase of development. The amendments:

• add Supply Chain Nations
• provide for authorised Observer Nation activities
• update programme terminology

Read the updated Open General Licence (Global Combat Air Programme)

Subject to its conditions, the updated OGL permits the export and transfer of specified dual-use and military goods, software and technology to GCAP Partner Nations and GCAP Supply Chain Nations where those activities are necessary to support the development, production, test and evaluation, through-life support, use, disposal or decommissioning of GCAP. The licence also permits limited, authorised activities relating to Observer Nations.

The previous GCAP OGL, dated August 2024, has been revoked and replaced by this updated licence. Existing registrations remain valid.

Exporters should review the updated licence carefully and ensure they can comply with all the terms and conditions before using it.

New Open General Export Licence: Agreement on Defence Export Controls ‘De-Minimis’ Exports

Read the new Open General Export Licence: Agreement on Defence Export Controls ‘De-Minimis’ Exports

This OGEL supports the UK’s implementation of the ‘de-minimis’ provisions contained in Article 3 of the Agreement on Defence Export Controls between the UK, France, Germany and Spain.

The ‘de-minimis’ provisions apply where the value of UK-origin goods, software or technology does not exceed 20% of the total value of the final system into which they are to be integrated.

The licence permits exports and transfers of specified military goods, software and technology to Partner Nations (France, Germany and Spain) for integration into a final system, where the total UK-origin content of that system does not exceed the ‘de-minimis’ threshold, and where that final system is to be transferred or exported from a Partner Nation to any destination not excluded by the licence.

Exporters should review the licence carefully and ensure they can comply with all the terms and conditions before using it.

Registration and guidance

Before using these licences, exporters must register through SPIRE. This includes stating where you will keep records of the exports or transfers, and where ECJU may inspect them.

Further information:

• Open general export licences (OGELs)
• GCAP OGL guidance note
• Guidance on Agreement on Defence Export Controls
• How to complete the Integration Certificate required under Article 3 controls of the Agreement on Defence Export Controls 

Declaration requirements

As outlined in Notice to exporters 2026/13, when exporters register to use OGELs or GEAs, they are given a unique licence reference in the following format: ‘GBOGE20XX/XXXXX’.

For relevant exports, this code should be input into the UK’s Customs Declarations System (CDS), which includes a field where this licence reference can be entered.

Including the licence reference on CDS will bring goods exports made under OGELs and GEAs into line with standard individual export licences (SIELs) and open individual export licence (OIELs). The roll-out of this requirement across all relevant OGELs aims to deliver data that will help us maintain the appropriate balance between transparency and administrative burden, while providing insight into OGEL usage and trends.

Contact ECJU 

General queries about strategic export licensing 

Export Control Joint Unit 
Department for Business and Trade 
Old Admiralty Building 
Admiralty Place 
London 
SW1A 2DY 

Email exportcontrol.help@businessandtrade.gov.uk 

Telephone 020 7215 4594

the updated Open General Licence (OGL):

the new Open General Export Licence (OGEL):

and the updated guidance:

Guidance

Guidance on Agreement on Defence Export Controls

Updated 9 September 2026

Overview

This guidance provides background on the Agreement on Defence Export Controls and sets out the requirements for licence applications to be considered against Articles 1, 2 or 3 of the agreement.

The Agreement on Defence Export Controls (the agreement) is a treaty between Germany, France, Spain, and the UK (the signatory states). The UK acceded to this agreement in December 2025. It aims to reduce the administrative burden for exports or transfers of defence related products and supports industrial partnerships between the signatory states.

There are 3 key articles covering different aspects of co-operation under the agreement, which only applies to items on the Common Military List. There are only minor differences between the Common Military List and the UK Military List.

Key articles of the agreement

Article 1

Article 1 covers defence exports related to joint intergovernmental programmes, between 2 or more signatory states, formalised through memoranda of understanding (MoUs) or intergovernmental agreements. Article 1 can apply to both new and existing programmes. In the UK, it will be the relevant Ministry of Defence (MOD) team who will confirm and identify programmes falling under Article 1.

The principle of Article 1 is that a signatory state should not oppose an export or transfer to a third party, which is requested by another signatory state, other than in exceptional situations in which that transfer or export compromises its direct interests or national security. The agreement requires any concerns with any such export to be raised with the other contracting parties within 2 months.

Article 2

Article 2 facilitates exports and transfers arising from industrial co-operation projects that promote closer integration of defence industries across the signatory states.

Article 2 establishes a 2-step process to facilitate exports and transfers between industrial partners involved in recognised co-operation projects. Its aim is to reduce the export control burden for defence-related products developed through collaborative efforts.

Step 1: project recognition

The first step is for the relevant signatory states to consider and agree that a specific industrial co-operation project qualifies under Article 2. This requires a coordinated submission of a project file by the industrial partners to their respective national authorities. In the UK, the MOD is responsible for assessing this project file and confirming project eligibility.

Further advice on project recognition will be provided in due course.

Step 2: export licensing

Once a project is recognised, licence applications are assessed in accordance with Article 2. While Article 2 seeks to reduce the export licensing burden, it does not exempt exporters from submitting licence applications for transfers to industrial partners.

The principle of Article 2 is that, in relation to a defence product developed by defence manufacturers in 2 or more signatory states, a signatory state shall not oppose the export or transfer by a manufacturer of another signatory state to a non-state party, other than in exceptional situations in which that transfer or export compromises its direct interests or national security.

The agreement requires any concerns with any such export to be raised with the other contracting parties within 2 months from the date on being informed of the proposed transfer or export.

Note, the decision to grant or refuse the licence for the export of the final product shall fall to the signatory state from whose territory that export is carried out. Those decisions do not fall within the scope of Article 2.

Article 3

Article 3 implements a de minimis principle which applies when the value of defence-related components from one or more signatory states in a final system exported by another signatory state is below 20%. It does not apply to exports covered by Articles 1 or 2.

The de minimis principle applies when the value of defence-related components from one or more signatory states in a final system exported by another is less than 20% of the total value of that system. The final integrator will be responsible for assessing the overall contribution from each signatory state. They will take into consideration each of its direct suppliers representing over 2% of the total final value the products which that supplier procured directly from a contracting party concerned.

Note, the total value excludes maintenance, spare parts, training, and repairs.

Under the agreement, an end-user undertaking is not required to support an export licence application submitted for consideration under Article 3. Instead, a harmonised ‘Integration Certificate’ has been developed, which provides information on the goods and parties involved, end user details and a de minimis declaration on the value of defence-related products from a supplying signatory state to be integrated into the final system in another signatory state.

While Article 3 applies to items on the Common Military List, certain goods are excluded from this principle, as listed in Annex 3 of the agreement. Detailed guidance on Article 3 is included in Annex 2 of the agreement. A worked example on the de minimis principle is provided within the guidance on completing the Integration Certificate.

Open General Export Licence (OGEL)

An Open General Export Licence (Agreement on Defence Export Controls: ‘De-Minimis’ Exports) has been published to support eligible exports under Article 3.

This may remove the need for an individual licence application where the export is within scope and the exporter can comply with all the OGEL terms and conditions, including the Article 3 de minimis requirements.

Where the OGEL does not apply, you should submit an individual licence application.

Submitting licence applications for consideration under the agreement

All applications submitted for consideration under the agreement will continue to be assessed in the usual way against the Strategic Export Licensing Criteria.

Applications under Article 1: intergovernmental programmes

When submitting licence applications for consideration under Article 1

• the ‘intended end use of the products’ field in the licence application form should begin with ‘URGENT, for consideration under Article 1 of the Defence Exports Agreement’
• if the ultimate end user(s) of the end products in a third country is known, they must be identified in the licence application

Under the principles of Article 1, we will not normally refuse applications for export to a signatory state, apart from in an exceptional situation which compromises our direct interests or our national security.

If we identify any such concerns, we will consult with other signatory states before making a final decision.

Applications under Article 2: industrial co-operation

When submitting licence applications for consideration under Article 2:

• the ‘intended end use of the products’ field in the licence application form should begin with ‘URGENT, for consideration under Article 2 of the Defence Exports Agreement’
• identify the ultimate end user if known
• reference previous licences that enabled technology transfers under ‘previous applications’
• clearly state the final products into which UK items will be integrated under ‘intended end use’
• ensure all information aligns with the scope of the agreed project
• attach the joint project descriptive file and confirmation of project eligibility

Applications that are not properly marked or which do not contain the required information will not be considered under Article 2 and will be processed as a standard licence request.

Under the principles of Article 2, we will not normally refuse applications for export to a signatory state, apart from in an exceptional situation which compromises our direct interests or our national security.

If we identify any such concerns, we will consult with other signatory states before making a final decision.

Exports of final products from an industrial co-operation project

The decision to approve or refuse a licence to export the final product lies with the signatory state from whose territory the export takes place. This decision is outside the scope of Article 2.

Export licence applications for export of a final product should not be marked for consideration under Article 2 and will not be assessed as such.

However, the UK will notify authorities in the relevant signatory states if it refuses a licence for a system produced through recognised co-operation that includes components authorised for re-export by signatory states.

To support this, UK exporters should identify, in the ‘intended end use of the products’ field in their licence application, that this application relates to a final product from an industrial co-operation project under Article 2 of the Defence Exports Agreement, and identify which signatory states were involved in the development of the final product.

Licences relating to a recognised co-operation

Certain exports or transfers – such as those involving technology, tools, or production line setup – may be necessary to implement co-operation but are not linked to a given export or transfer to a non-signatory state.

To facilitate the processing of such licence applications, exporters should include the relevance to the agreed Article 2 industrial co-operation and the joint project descriptive file with the licence application.

Applications under Article 3: de minimis principle

Open General Export Licence (OGEL)

For exports related to Article 3, exporters should first check whether the Open General Export Licence (Agreement on Defence Export Controls: ‘De-Minimis’ Exports) applies. If the OGEL applies, exporters must register to use it and comply with its terms and conditions.

Individual Export Licence Applications

Where the Open General Export Licence (Agreement on Defence Export Controls “De-Minimis” Exports) does not apply, exporters should submit an individual export licence application for consideration, for example standard individual export licences (SIELs).

For the application to be considered under Article 3, the ‘intended end use of the products’ field in the licence application form should begin with ‘URGENT de minimis, for consideration under Article 3 of the Defence Exports Agreement’.

If the application is not properly marked or contains the required information, it will not be considered against Article 3 and will be processed as a standard licence request.

If the de minimis principle applies:

• no end-user undertaking is required for exports to a signatory state
• an integration certificate may be requested to confirm incorporation into the final system
• we will assess the application without delay

Under the principles of Article 3, we will not refuse applications apart from in an exceptional situation which compromises our direct interests or our national security. If the third-party recipient of the final system is unknown at the time of licensing, the signatory state exporting the system will be solely responsible for assessing that export once the recipient is identified.

Applicants must ensure the following:

• the proposed export is not listed in Annex 3 exclusions
• the first recipients are in a signatory state to the agreement
• the application concerns defence-related products that will be integrated into a final system in a signatory state and then remain in a signatory state or be exported from a signatory state to a non-signatory state

The application must include supporting documentation specifying:

• confirmation that the equipment is not excluded under Annex 3
• the maximum value share of UK components (excluding maintenance, spare parts, training and repairs) in the final system, specifying whether it is below 20%
• a description of the final system, including its Military List (ML) classification
• identification of the first integrator and consignee (if known) responsible for exporting the final system
• identification of the final consignee(s) of the integrated system
• details of any items not covered by the de minimis rule

Integration certificate

Signatory states may request a certificate confirming integration of the product into the final system before transfer. Where a UK entity is the final integrator, they will need to complete the integration certificate. A template certificate is available on GOV.UK, for which there is separate guidance.

Exports of final products from the UK

The decision to approve or refuse a licence for exporting the final product lies with the signatory state from whose territory the export occurs. This decision is outside the scope of Article 3.

English language version of the agreement

View an English language version of the Agreement on Defence Export Controls.

Guidance on completing the Integration Certificate

View guidance on completing the Integration Certificate and a template of the certificate.