What is changing, and when.
The laws, rules and policies that change defence contracts and financings in the UK, the US and the EU: where each stands, the official documents, and the dates to diary. Official sources are checked on every site update, and new documents are flagged until the entry is re-read.
Randeep Bubbra | Lawyer | Making defence financeable
United Kingdom · United States · European Union · Legal calendar
United Kingdom
ProcurementIn force since 24 February 2025Procurement Act 2023The Procurement Act 2023 governs UK public procurements started on or after 24 February 2025, including a category of defence and security contracts.Latest document 21 Oct 2026Export controlIn force; lists amended regularlyUK strategic export controlsMilitary and dual-use exports from the UK need a licence under the Export Control Order 2008 and the UK dual-use list.Latest document 9 Sep 2026Investment screeningConsultation concluded; regulations pendingNational Security and Investment Act: sector reviewThe government has consulted on changes to the 17 sectors where acquisitions must be notified under the NSI Act, and published its response in March 2026.Latest document 14 Jul 2026PricingIn force since 5 June 2026Single source pricing: 2026 amendmentsThe Single Source Contract (Amendment) Regulations 2026 raise the cap on the incentive adjustment to the contract profit rate from two to ten percentage points, tied to objectively verifiable outcomes, as the MOD links profit to on-time delivery.Latest document 14 May 2026Policy and fundingPublished; being implementedStrategic Defence Review and Defence Industrial StrategyThe Strategic Defence Review 2025 and the Defence Industrial Strategy 2025 set the UK's procurement priorities, including faster routes for innovative suppliers through UK Defence Innovation and commercial reforms such as the 2026 single source changes.Latest document 18 Sep 2025
United States
Investment screeningProposed rule, comments openUS outbound investment rules (COINS Act)Treasury has proposed regulations implementing the Comprehensive Outbound Investment National Security Act, now Title VIII of the Defense Production Act, which would require US persons to notify, or in some cases not make, certain investments in foreign persons engaged in sensitive technologies.Latest document 26 Oct 2026Export controlProposed rule, comments openITAR: review of the US Munitions ListThe State Department proposes to narrow the US Munitions List to the most sensitive technologies, update definitions and revise licence exemptions, alongside a series of final rules moving items off the USML in 2026.Latest document 1 Oct 2026ProcurementProposed rules, comments closedRevolutionary FAR OverhaulThe FAR Council is rewriting the Federal Acquisition Regulation part by part to implement Executive Order 14275, removing clauses not required by statute.Latest document 18 Sep 2026CyberPhasing inCMMC: cyber certification for DoD contractorsThe Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification programme (32 CFR Part 170) is being written into DoD solicitations and contracts in four annual phases.Latest document 10 Sep 2025
European Union
Policy and fundingIn force; corrigendum October 2026European Defence Industry Programme (EDIP)Regulation (EU) 2025/2643 of 16 December 2025 established the European Defence Industry Programme, which funds joint procurement, industrial ramp-up and supply security measures, with eligibility rules on ownership and control.Latest document 12 Oct 2026Export controlIn force; Annex I updatedEU dual-use export controlsRegulation (EU) 2021/821 requires an authorisation to export listed dual-use items, including spacecraft and many defence components.Latest document 21 Sep 2026Investment screeningAdopted; applies from 17 January 2028New EU foreign investment screening regulationRegulation (EU) 2026/1386 replaces the 2019 screening regulation.Latest document 17 Jun 2026Policy and fundingPublished; being implementedDefence Readiness 2030 and the industry roadmapThe Commission's Defence Readiness 2030 agenda and its November 2025 EU Defence Industry Transformation Roadmap set out how EU funding, procurement rules and capital markets should support defence industry growth.Latest document 17 Dec 2025ProcurementProposed June 2025Defence readiness omnibus: procurement and transfersThe Commission proposed amending Directive 2009/81/EC (defence procurement) and Directive 2009/43/EC (intra-EU transfers) to raise thresholds, widen exemptions and simplify transfers.Latest document 2 Dec 2025Policy and fundingIn force since May 2025SAFE: EU defence loansCouncil Regulation (EU) 2025/1106 set up Security Action for Europe (SAFE), an instrument of up to €150 billion in EU loans to member states for common defence procurement, with rules on where the products and components must come from.Latest document 27 May 2025
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