Dual-use technology startups cannot get export licenses fast enough to sell to allied nations

A defense startup building dual-use technology (e.g., counter-drone AI that also works for civilian airports) must obtain an export license from DDTC (State Department) or BIS (Commerce Department) before selling to allied nations. License processing takes 4-8 months for ITAR items and 2-4 months for EAR items. Allied customers (UK, Australia, Japan) who want to buy the technology today lose patience and develop domestic alternatives. This persists because the export control workforce has not scaled since the Cold War, the ITAR/EAR jurisdictional split creates dueling bureaucracies, and license officers have no SLA or timeline accountability.