International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) is a set of US government regulations that control the import and export of defense-related articles, services, and technical data. These regulations were put in place to prevent the transfer of sensitive military technology or information to foreign countries and organizations that may pose a national security threat to the United States. Under ITAR, certain items and technologies are considered “defense articles” and require a license from the US Department of State to be exported or disclosed to foreign nationals. Failure to comply with ITAR can result in severe penalties, including fines and imprisonment. ITAR has a broad reach and applies to companies of all sizes that work in the defense industry, including manufacturers, exporters, and brokers of defense-related items.