Defence Armament OÜ, registry code 17555647, registered in the Republic of Estonia, European Union, trading as Defence.us

1. INTRODUCTION & ACCEPTANCE

1.1 Overview

Welcome to Defence.US (the “Website”, “Platform”, “We”, “Us”, “Our”). Defence.US is a defence procurement facilitation platform operated by Vorn Initiative Ltd. (the “Company”). These Terms & Conditions (“Terms”) govern your access to and use of our Website, services, content, and any procurement facilitation services we provide (collectively, the “Services”).

1.2 Acceptance

By accessing or using our Website, submitting an enquiry, or engaging with our Services in any manner, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms, our Privacy Policy, and our Export Compliance Statement. If you do not agree to these Terms, you must immediately cease using our Website and Services.

1.3 Eligibility

Our Services are intended solely for:

  • Government entities (ministries of defence, procurement agencies, armed forces)
  • Qualified defence industry entities (prime contractors, licensed manufacturers, authorised distributors)
  • Institutional buyers with legitimate procurement authority

By using our Services, you represent and warrant that you are acting with proper authority and that your use complies with all applicable laws, including international export control regulations.

2. OUR ROLE: PROCUREMENT FACILITATION ONLY

2.1 No Direct Sales

Defence.US is NOT a seller, manufacturer, exporter, or principal party in any defence article transaction. We do not take title to, inventory, or physical possession of any defence articles, weapons systems, ammunition, or related equipment.

2.2 Facilitation Services

Our role is strictly limited to:

  • Connecting qualified government and institutional buyers with verified OEM manufacturers, prime contractors, or authorised government export agencies;
  • Providing product information, technical specifications, and market intelligence;
  • Facilitating introductions and initial communications between buyers and sellers;
  • Offering advisory services on procurement pathways, including Government-to-Government (G2G) channels.

2.3 G2G Disclaimer

For items requiring Government-to-Government procurement (including but not limited to main battle tanks, frigates, submarines, and certain air defence systems), Defence.US does not act as a seller or principal. We provide facilitation and advisory services only. All G2G transactions are conducted directly between the buyer government and the manufacturer’s government or authorised representative.

2.4 No Agency Relationship

Nothing in these Terms creates an agency, partnership, joint venture, or employment relationship between you and Defence.US. You engage with third-party manufacturers and sellers at your own risk, subject to your own due diligence and separate contractual arrangements.

3. EXPORT CONTROL & COMPLIANCE

3.1 Governing Regulations

All defence articles, technical data, and services accessible through or facilitated by Defence.US are subject to applicable export control laws, including but not limited to:

  • International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) — 22 CFR Parts 120-130
  • Export Administration Regulations (EAR) — 15 CFR Parts 730-774
  • UN Security Council arms embargoes and sanctions lists
  • Wassenaar Arrangement export controls
  • National export licensing regimes of all relevant jurisdictions

3.2 End User Certificates (EUC)

An End User Certificate (EUC) is required for all defence article transactions facilitated through Defence.US. Buyers must provide:

  • Valid, government-issued EUC on official letterhead
  • Verification of end-user identity and legitimate end-use
  • Assurance of no onward transfer or re-export without authorisation
  • Compliance with all applicable sanctions and embargoes

3.3 Prohibited Parties & Embargoes

Defence.US does not engage with, facilitate sales to, or accept enquiries from:

  • Any individual, entity, or country subject to UN Security Council arms embargoes
  • Parties listed on the US Department of Commerce Entity List, Unverified List, or Denied Persons List
  • Parties listed on the US Department of State Debarred Parties List
  • Parties subject to OFAC sanctions or any equivalent national sanctions regime
  • Any jurisdiction prohibited by applicable export control laws

3.4 User Obligations

You agree that you will not, directly or indirectly, use our Services to:

  • Procure defence articles for any prohibited end-user or prohibited end-use
  • Divert, re-export, or transfer defence articles without proper authorisation
  • Violate any applicable arms embargo, sanction, or export control law
  • Engage in any activity that would cause Defence.US to violate any law or regulation

3.5 Verification

We reserve the right to conduct end-user verification, request additional documentation, and refuse or terminate any engagement that raises compliance concerns.

4. USER REPRESENTATIONS & WARRANTIES

By using our Website or Services, you represent and warrant that:

4.1 Authority

You have the full legal authority to enter into these Terms and to submit procurement enquiries on behalf of your organisation.

4.2 Lawful Purpose

You will use our Services solely for legitimate defence procurement purposes and in compliance with all applicable laws.

4.3 Accuracy of Information

All information you provide to Defence.US — including your identity, organisation, procurement authority, and end-use — is true, accurate, and complete.

4.4 Export Compliance

You understand and will comply with all applicable export control laws. You will provide any end-user certificates, import/export licences, or other documentation as reasonably requested.

4.5 No Sanctions Violation

Neither you nor your organisation is subject to any applicable sanctions, embargoes, or debarments that would prohibit engagement with Defence.US.

5. PROCUREMENT PROCESS DISCLAIMERS

5.1 No Guarantee of Transaction

Defence.US does not guarantee that any procurement enquiry will result in a successful transaction, contract, or sale. We act solely as a facilitator.

5.2 Third-Party Terms

Any contract for the purchase of defence articles is exclusively between you (the buyer) and the third-party seller (manufacturer, prime contractor, or government agency). Defence.US is not a party to such contracts and assumes no responsibility for their negotiation, performance, or enforcement.

5.3 Pricing & Availability

All product information, specifications, pricing, and availability are provided by third-party manufacturers and are subject to change without notice. Defence.US does not warrant the accuracy, completeness, or currency of any product information.

5.4 Due Diligence

You are solely responsible for conducting your own due diligence on any manufacturer, product, or transaction. Defence.US provides introductions and information but does not endorse or guarantee any third-party seller.

5.5 Technical Documentation

Technical specifications, datasheets, and documentation provided through our Services are for informational purposes only. Final technical specifications must be verified directly with the manufacturer.

6. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

6.1 Our Content

All content on the Defence.US Website — including text, graphics, logos, icons, images, audio clips, video clips, data compilations, software, and documentation — is the property of Defence.US or its content suppliers and is protected by international copyright, trademark, and other intellectual property laws.

6.2 Trademarks

“Defence.US”, the Defence.US logo, and all related names, logos, product and service names, designs, and slogans are trademarks of Vorn Initiative Ltd. or its affiliates. You may not use such marks without our prior written permission.

6.3 Limited License

We grant you a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable, revocable license to access and use our Website for legitimate procurement purposes, subject to these Terms. You may not:

  • Republish, distribute, or reproduce our content without authorisation
  • Use our content for any commercial purpose outside your own procurement activities
  • Scrape, crawl, or use automated means to extract data from our Website
  • Reverse engineer, decompile, or disassemble any part of our Website or Services

6.4 User Submissions

By submitting enquiries, documents, or other information to Defence.US, you grant us a non-exclusive, royalty-free, perpetual, irrevocable license to use, store, and process such information for the purpose of providing our Services, subject to our Privacy Policy.

7. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY

7.1 No Warranties

THE WEBSITE AND SERVICES ARE PROVIDED “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE” WITHOUT ANY WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED. To the fullest extent permitted by law, Defence.US disclaims all warranties, including:

  • Implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and non-infringement
  • Warranties that the Website will be uninterrupted, error-free, secure, or free of viruses
  • Warranties regarding the accuracy, reliability, or completeness of any product or manufacturer information

7.2 Limitation of Liability

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, DEFENCE.US SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR:

  • Any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages
  • Loss of profits, revenue, contracts, data, or goodwill
  • Damages arising from procurement transactions, contract disputes, or export compliance failures
  • Damages caused by third-party manufacturers, sellers, or government agencies
  • Any amount exceeding the total fees paid by you to Defence.US (if any) in the twelve months preceding the claim

7.3 Basis of the Bargain

You acknowledge that Defence.US provides procurement facilitation services only, does not sell defence articles, and has no control over third-party transactions. The limitations of liability set forth above are fundamental elements of the bargain between you and Defence.US.

7.4 Jurisdictional Limitations

Some jurisdictions do not allow the exclusion of certain warranties or the limitation of liability for incidental or consequential damages. In such jurisdictions, our liability shall be limited to the fullest extent permitted by law.

8. INDEMNIFICATION

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Defence.US, Vorn Initiative Ltd., its officers, directors, employees, agents, and affiliates from and against any and all claims, damages, losses, liabilities, costs, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) arising out of or relating to:

  • Your use of our Website or Services
  • Your violation of these Terms
  • Your violation of any applicable law, including export control laws
  • Any procurement transaction you enter into with a third-party seller
  • Any misrepresentation or breach of warranty by you
  • Any claim by a third party arising from your actions

9. PROHIBITED CONDUCT

You agree not to:

9.1 Use our Services for any unlawful purpose or in violation of these Terms

9.2 Impersonate any person or entity, or falsely state or misrepresent your affiliation with any person or entity

9.3 Submit fraudulent, false, or misleading procurement enquiries

9.4 Attempt to circumvent any export control or sanctions compliance measure

9.5 Interfere with or disrupt the operation of our Website or Services

9.6 Attempt to gain unauthorised access to any portion of our Website, systems, or networks

9.7 Collect or harvest information about other users without their consent

9.8 Use automated means (bots, crawlers, scrapers) to access our Website

10. TERMINATION

10.1 By Us

We reserve the right, in our sole discretion, to:

  • Suspend or terminate your access to our Website or Services
  • Refuse to process any procurement enquiry
  • Remove any content or information submitted by you

without prior notice, for any reason or no reason, including but not limited to violation of these Terms, suspected export control violation, or any conduct that we deem harmful to our interests or the interests of other users.

10.2 By You

You may cease using our Website and Services at any time. Any outstanding procurement enquiries shall be subject to the terms in effect at the time of submission.

10.3 Survival

Sections 2 (Our Role), 3 (Export Control), 5 (Disclaimers), 6 (Intellectual Property), 7 (Limitation of Liability), 8 (Indemnification), 11 (Governing Law), and any other provisions that by their nature should survive termination shall survive any termination of these Terms.

11. GOVERNING LAW & DISPUTE RESOLUTION

11.1 Governing Law

These Terms and any dispute arising out of or relating to these Terms or your use of our Services shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of England and Wales, without regard to its conflict of laws principles.

11.2 Dispute Resolution — Informal

Before initiating any formal proceeding, you agree to first attempt to resolve any dispute informally by contacting us at [email protected]. We will attempt to resolve the dispute within thirty (30) days of receipt of such notice.

11.3 Arbitration

Any dispute not resolved informally shall be finally and exclusively resolved by binding arbitration administered by the London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA) in accordance with its rules. The arbitration shall take place in London, United Kingdom, in the English language. The arbitrator’s award shall be final and binding, and judgment on the award may be entered in any court having jurisdiction.

11.4 No Class Actions

You agree to resolve any disputes with Defence.US on an individual basis. You waive the right to bring or participate in any class, consolidated, or representative action.

11.5 Injunctive Relief

Notwithstanding the arbitration provisions, either party may seek injunctive or other equitable relief in any court of competent jurisdiction to protect its intellectual property rights or to prevent imminent violation of export control laws.

12. MODIFICATIONS TO TERMS

We reserve the right to modify, amend, or replace these Terms at any time, in our sole discretion. If we make material changes, we will notify you by:

  • Posting the revised Terms on our Website
  • Updating the “Last Updated” date at the top of these Terms
  • Providing such other notice as we deem appropriate

Your continued use of our Website or Services following the posting of revised Terms constitutes your acceptance of such changes. If you do not agree to the revised Terms, you must immediately cease using our Website and Services.

13. FORCE MAJEURE

Defence.US shall not be liable for any delay or failure to perform resulting from causes outside our reasonable control, including but not limited to:

  • Acts of God, natural disasters, or severe weather
  • War, hostilities, terrorism, or civil unrest
  • Government actions, export licence delays, or regulatory changes
  • Pandemics, epidemics, or public health emergencies
  • Cyberattacks, network failures, or infrastructure disruptions
  • Labour disputes or strikes

14. MISCELLANEOUS

14.1 Entire Agreement

These Terms, together with our Privacy Policy and Export Compliance Statement, constitute the entire agreement between you and Defence.US regarding your use of our Website and Services, superseding any prior agreements or communications.

14.2 Severability

If any provision of these Terms is found to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, such provision shall be enforced to the maximum extent permissible, and the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect.

14.3 Waiver

Our failure to enforce any right or provision of these Terms shall not constitute a waiver of such right or provision unless acknowledged and agreed to by us in writing.

14.4 Assignment

You may not assign, transfer, or sublicense these Terms or any of your rights or obligations hereunder without our prior written consent. We may assign these Terms without restriction to any successor or affiliate.

14.5 Relationship

Nothing in these Terms shall be construed to create a partnership, joint venture, employment, or agency relationship.

14.6 Headings

Section headings are for convenience only and have no legal or contractual effect.

14.7 Language

The English language version of these Terms shall be controlling. Any translations are provided for convenience only.

15. CONTACT INFORMATION

For questions, concerns, or notices regarding these Terms, please contact us at:

Defence.US — Legal Department
Vorn Initiative.
Email: [email protected]
Compliance Enquiries: [email protected]
General Enquiries: [email protected]

APPENDIX A: SUMMARY OF KEY OBLIGATIONS

Provision Summary
Section 2 Defence.US is a facilitator only — no direct sales
Section 3 Strict export compliance — EUC required
Section 5 No guarantee of transaction; buyer due diligence required
Section 7 No warranties; liability limited to maximum extent
Section 8 User indemnification obligation
Section 9 Prohibited conduct defined
Section 11 LCIA arbitration in London, England & Wales law
Section 12 Terms may be modified; continued use = acceptance

BY USING DEFENCE.US, YOU ACKNOWLEDGE THAT YOU HAVE READ, UNDERSTOOD, AND AGREE TO BE BOUND BY THESE TERMS & CONDITIONS.