DTRA.TGW.DRAFT.ProcessOverview.4Dec2025 .pdf

Conventional Arms Control Agreements Overview

Supplemental to SOW for DTRA’s Arms Control Enterprise System (ACES) Support Services

4 Dec 2025

Global Exchange of Military Information (GEMI) The Wassenaar Arrangement on Export Controls for Conventional Arms and Dual-Use Goods and Technologies United Nations Transparency in Armaments (UNTIA)

Global Exchange of Military Information (GEMI)

BACKGROUND:

The Global Exchange of Military Information (GEMI) is a politically binding transparency measure implemented by the 57 participating States of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). GEMI is designed to promote openness and confidence-building among participants by providing information on their national military forces throughout the world.

DISCUSSION:

Annually, on 30 April, participating States (pS) exchange information covering the preceding calendar year on their personnel and equipment located throughout the world. The submission covers their command structure, peacetime authorized personnel strengths, and global holdings of specified military equipment.

Personnel and equipment holdings are reported both in the aggregate and by geographical region. The five geographical regions are: 1) Europe, 2) East Asia and the Pacific, 3) North Africa, the Near East, and South Asia, 4) Sub-Saharan Africa, and 5) the Western Hemisphere. Force totals are reported in nine categories: battle tanks, armored combat vehicles (with sub-categories of armored personnel carriers, armored infantry fighting vehicles, and heavy armament combat vehicles), armored vehicle launched bridges, anti-tank guided missile launchers, self-propelled and towed artillery, aircraft (with sub-categories of combat aircraft, military transport aircraft, and primary trainer aircraft), helicopters (with sub-categories of attack helicopters, combat support helicopters, and military transport helicopters), surface warships, and submarines.

Participating States (pS) are required to provide photographs and related technical data for all new equipment systems meeting the definitions of the categories for equipment that entered into service during the previous calendar year. Also, GEMI requires the pS to report aggregate numbers of equipment by category entered into service the previous year through national production, as well as the same information for equipment that entered into service through imports.

DTRA’S ROLE:

The Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) serves as the Department of War (DoW) lead data management agent responsible for collecting, compiling, and integrating the data required to complete all conventional arms control data exchanges, to include the GEMI. Specifically, for the GEMI, the Joint Staff forwards information from the Services to DTRA using the Arms Control Enterprise System (ACES). DTRA then conducts a data review of the information to confirm the compliance and integrity of the information. Once the information receives DoW clearance, DTRA consolidates it and produces an aggregate GEMI submission in the form of CDs and charts. These are reproduced and transported by DTRA for ultimate submission to the OSCE. DTRA is also responsible for the operations and maintenance of ACES (the U.S. arms control notification processing, data exchange repository, and reporting system).

INTERAGENCY COLLABORATION:

• Annually in January, Joint Staff sends tasking letter to the Services to begin the GEMI Annual Exchange of Information (AEI) cycle.

• By March, Services submit their data into ACES, to include procurement through national production and imports. These submissions include Joint Staff Conventional updates; HQAF enters Air Force data; CNO enters data for both Navy and Marines; HQDA shares data entry responsibility with LOGSA.

• Joint Staff / DTRA runs year-to-year, consistency and cross treaty checks of GEMI data in ACES to ensure consistency, and work with Services to resolve any data input problems.

• By end of March, Joint Staff hosts DoW Data Review in Pentagon, to include GEMI data as well as UN TIA holdings and PTNP data not covered during the review of export data.

(TIA/WA/SALW reviews are typically scheduled on the same day).

• Joint Staff / DTRA resolves issues brought up during the data review. Services resubmit data into ACES if necessary.

• DTRA produces final GEMI exchange charts, send to Joint Staff.

• Joint Staff forwards the charts to Services, Under Secretary of War (OUSW) Policy (P) and

OUSD(A&S) for clearance.

• Once Joint Staff receives clearances from Services, OUSD(P) and OUSD (AT&L), Joint Staff distributes GEMI data for interagency review.

• In April, the Joint Staff hosts Interagency GEMI data review (if required) at Pentagon.

• Once interagency clearance is received, Joint Staff approves final charts in ACES. DTRA begins production of final electronic files and hard copy charts, provides to Joint Staff.

• In April, the U.S. Delegation attends OSCE GEMI Electronic Data Workshop in Vienna, submits

US data to the Workshop.

ACES WORKFLOW CONSOLE:

ACES (Arms Control Enterprise System) provides the TIA, GEMI, Wassenaar Workflow Console, which is the entry point for the TGW Review Authority to perform the TIA and GEMI data review and approval process. It provides the capability for OSD and Joint Staff users to review Services’ TIA and GEMI submissions and to combine Service, Joint Staff, and OSW level data into aggregate U.S. official charts, reports, and electronic annual exchange data, as applicable.

The Workflow Console is divided into two main sections, Node-Level TIA/GEMI Data Review, and Aggregate-Level TIA/GEMI Data Review.

The Wassenaar Arrangement on Export Controls for Conventional Arms and Dual-Use Goods and Technologies

BACKGROUND:

The Wassenaar Arrangement (WA) is a politically binding multilateral export control regime that promotes transparency, exchange of views and information, and greater responsibility in transfers of conventional arms and dual-use goods and technologies with the purpose of preventing destabilizing accumulations. The WA was established in 1996. Its decision-making body, the Plenary, normally meets once a year in Vienna, Austria.

WA complements and reinforces, without duplicating, existing regimes for non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their delivery systems by focusing on the threats to international and regional peace and security, from transfers of armaments and sensitive dual-use goods and technologies judged high risk. The goal is to enhance co-operation and thereby prevent the acquisition of armaments and sensitive dual-use items for military end-uses in regions of concern to the 41 participating States.

The 42 participating States are: Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye, Ukraine, United Kingdom and the United States.

DISCUSSION:

Twice a year, on 30 April and 30 October, participating States exchange information on their exports of conventional arms to non-member WA countries. These exports are listed in the following categories: battle tanks, armored combat vehicles (ACVs), large-caliber artillery, military aircraft/unmanned aerial vehicles, military and attack helicopters, warships, missiles or missile systems, and small arms and light weapons.

DTRA’S ROLE:

The Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) serves as the DoW lead data management agent responsible for collecting, compiling, and integrating the data required to complete all conventional arms control data exchanges, to include the WA. Specifically for WA, the Defense Security and Cooperation Agency (DSCA) forwards export information from the Services and Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) Disposition Services to DTRA. DTRA then inputs the information into ACES and conducts a data review of the information to confirm the compliance and integrity of the information. Once the information receives DoW review and approval, DTRA produces the charts for WA submission. DTRA is also responsible for the operations and maintenance of ACES (the U.S. arms control notification processing, data exchange repository, and reporting system).

• Twice a year, DSCA sends tasking letter to the Services and DLA Disposition Services to begin the WA and TIA (United Nations Transparency in Armaments) AEI cycle.

• Services and DLA Disposition Services submit initial data to DSCA.

• DSCA provides (WA/TIA) draft data to DTRA Data Manager.

• DTRA sends initial comments/questions to DSCA. DSCA responds to DTRA comments/questions and provides final draft for review.

• In March Joint Staff hosts DoW TIA, OSCE SALW, and Wassenaar Data Review at Pentagon

(on the same day precedes GEMI review). Resolve any issues brought up during the Data Review.

• DSCA provides final data to DTRA Data Manager in signed memorandum.

• DTRA produces DoW UNTIA, OSCE Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW), and WA Charts and drafts exchange cover memos.

• DTRA obtains Services and OUSD(A&S) clearance on the charts and cover memos.

• DTRA provides final DoW UNTIA/WA data and cover memos to State Department.

• In April and October State Department submits final U.S. WA data due to the WA participating states.

United Nations Transparency in Armaments (UNTIA)

BACKGROUND:

The UNTIA is a politically binding U.N. resolution adopted in 1991 to improve international transparency relating to arms transfers and holdings, while building mutual confidence and promoting timely international consultations on potentially destabilizing regional arms build-ups.

Every State, whether a member of the U.N. or not, is invited to participate in UNTIA.

DISCUSSION:

Once a year, on 31 May, member states exchange information on their exports from and imports of conventional arms to their territory during the previous year. Information is reported in seven categories:

battle tanks, armored combat vehicles, large caliber artillery systems, attack helicopters, and combat aircraft (to include Combat UAVs), warships, missiles/missile launchers, and SALW.

In addition to providing reports on imports and exports, member states are encouraged to provide available background information regarding their military holdings, procurement through national production, and relevant policies.

The U.S. fully supports UNTIA and annually submits all requested information to the United Nations Register.

DTRA’S ROLE:

DTRA serves as the DoW lead data management agent responsible for collecting, compiling, and integrating the data required to complete all conventional arms control data exchanges, to include the UNTIA. Specifically, for the UNTIA, DSCA forwards export information from the Services and DLA Disposition Services to DTRA. DTRA then inputs the information into ACES and conducts a data review of the information to confirm the compliance and integrity of the information. Once the information receives DoW review and approval, DTRA produces the charts for ultimate submission to the U.N. DTRA is also responsible for the operations and maintenance of ACES (the U.S. arms control notification processing, data exchange repository, and reporting system).

• In January, DSCA (sends tasking letter to the Services and DLA Disposition Services to begin the UNTIA AEI cycle.

• In March Services and DLA Disposition Services submit initial data to DSCA.

• DSCA provides (WA/TIA) draft data to DTRA Data Manager.

• DTRA sends initial comments/questions to DSCA. DSCA responds to DTRA comments/questions and provides final draft for review.

• In March Joint Staff hosts DoD TIA, OSCE SALW, and Wassenaar Data Review at Pentagon (on the same day precedes GEMI review). Resolve any issues brought up during the Data Review.

• DSCA provides final data to DTRA Data Manager in signed memorandum.

• DTRA produces DoD UNTIA, OSCE SALW, and WA Charts and drafts exchange cover memos.

• DTRA obtains Services and OUSD(A&S) clearance on the charts and cover memos.

• DTRA provides FINAL DoD UNTIA/WA data and cover memos to State Department.

• In May State Department submits final U.S. TIA data due to the United Nations Register.

• In June State Department submits final SALW data due to the OSCE in Vienna.