Compliance and regulatory navigation
ITAR, EAR, CMMC, FOCI mitigation and entity structuring for defence work — with specialist counsel alongside, so nothing is reinvented.
Sectors · Defence & dual-use technology
British defence innovation meets US DoD compliance. We navigate both.
We unlock US defence market access through prime contractor relationships, compliance expertise, and institutional channels companies cannot reach alone.
Practice lead — Thomas S. Riebs, Los Angeles
The challenge
You’re already here. But are you winning? Your dual-use technology is proven at home. You’ve established a US presence, perhaps secured initial contracts — and scaling feels impossible. You’re hitting walls you can’t see.
The US defence market isn’t opaque. It’s relationship-driven and compliance-intensive in ways companies underestimate: prime relationships that determine subcontractor selection before RFPs are issued; ITAR compliance and clearances that can take eighteen months without expert navigation; acquisition pathways — SBIR/STTR, OTA, traditional contracting — each demanding a different approach.
For UK companies there is a further layer. The AUKUS licence-free environment has changed what is possible between the UK and the US — but only for companies that understand which technologies qualify, which remain excluded, and how to structure around the difference.
What we unlock
Four channels. One firm.
Prime and integrator relationships
Access to Tier 1 contractors actively seeking allied innovation partners. Introductions at programme level, not procurement level.
DoD acquisition pathways
SBIR/STTR, OTA positioning, traditional FAR contracting. We help you choose the right pathway before investing resources.
Allied partnership leverage
AUKUS and NATO interoperability position UK technology inside frameworks that accelerate US adoption.
The method, applied
Think slow: we map which DoD programmes align with your technology, which primes seek solutions like yours, and which pathway maximises the probability of success. Defence contracts take years — systems thinking prevents wasted effort.
Act fast: three of our partners ran the UK government’s commercial network in the United States. That access compresses compliance and prime introductions by 12 to 18 months.
Win big: we position UK defence technology for multi-year programmes and prime partnerships, not pilot projects. One strategic Tier 1 relationship unlocks access across multiple programmes.
Asked often
Does AUKUS mean ITAR no longer applies to UK companies?
No. The licence-free environment removes licensing requirements for a defined scope of trade between authorised users — but an excluded technologies list remains, and qualification is not automatic. Classification still comes first.
Can a UK-owned company win US defence work?
Yes — with the right structure. Foreign ownership is managed through FOCI mitigation, such as a Special Security Agreement, which is what makes a facility security clearance possible for a UK-owned US entity.
How long does US defence market entry take?
Realistically 12 to 36 months from first serious effort to meaningful contract activity. Compliance and relationship-building run in parallel, and neither can be skipped.
Where will you play in this market?
If what you build is proven at home and under-realised here — we should have a conversation. AXEL assesses fit before committing. The conversation is the first step, not the commitment.
Begin a conversation →