ITAR Registered

ITAR Registered suppliers are authorized to handle U.S. defense-related parts and technical data under strict export control and data security requirements.

Overview

ITAR Registered means the manufacturer is registered with the U.S. Department of State to handle defense articles and technical data covered by the International Traffic in Arms Regulations. This covers everything from controlled CAD files and drawings to fixtures, prototypes, and production parts tied to the United States Munitions List (USML). The shop must control access, record transfers, and follow defined procedures for storing and transmitting sensitive data.

You should involve an ITAR Registered supplier when your part, assembly, or technical data is defense-related or likely to be ITAR-controlled, even at prototype stage. Expect tighter document controls, limited foreign-person access, and more onboarding paperwork. Tradeoffs include higher overhead, fewer eligible suppliers, longer RFQ approval cycles, and strict rules on what you can email or upload. The benefit is legal compliance, reduced export-control risk, and a supply chain that can scale with defense and aerospace programs without requalifying for ITAR later.

Common Materials

  • Aluminum 6061
  • Aluminum 7075
  • Titanium 6Al-4V
  • 17-4 PH stainless steel
  • Inconel 718
  • 4140 steel

Tolerances

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Applications

  • AR-15 and M4 lower/upper receivers
  • Guided missile and seeker hardware
  • Military UAV airframes and brackets
  • Night vision and thermal optic housings
  • Small arms barrels, bolts, and suppressors
  • Encrypted radio and defense electronics enclosures

When to Choose ITAR Registered

Work with ITAR Registered suppliers when your design, part, or technical data is tied to defense use or could reasonably fall under the USML. Use them early for prototypes and fixtures so you do not need to move the work later once the program is classified as ITAR-controlled. Treat any RFQ involving weapons, targeting, or military-only capability as requiring ITAR until a compliance professional says otherwise.

vs ISO 9001 (Quality Management)

Choose an ITAR Registered supplier when the primary risk is export control and handling of defense technical data, not just baseline quality management. ISO 9001 focuses on process consistency; ITAR registration focuses on who can access your files and parts, how data is transmitted, and whether manufacturing activity is legal under U.S. export law.

vs AS9100 (Aerospace Quality)

Select ITAR Registered shops when your aerospace part has a strictly military or defense application and may be on or derived from USML items. AS9100 addresses aerospace quality and traceability, but by itself does not authorize handling ITAR-controlled drawings or restricting foreign-person access; ITAR registration covers those export-control requirements.

vs ISO 13485 (Medical Device Quality)

Use ITAR Registered capability when the part is defense-related, even if it shares technology with medical or imaging systems. ISO 13485 governs medical device quality and regulatory compliance, but does not address export restrictions on defense articles or classified technical data, which ITAR registration specifically governs.

vs DFARS Compliant

Choose ITAR Registered when you must control who can see and work on the part, not just where the material is melted or how cybersecurity is handled. DFARS compliance focuses on defense acquisition rules and domestic sourcing; ITAR registration adds the legal authority and systems for handling export-controlled technical data and hardware.

vs FFL (Federal Firearms License)

Rely on ITAR Registered manufacturers when your firearms-related work involves controlled technical data, military-specific weapons, or export-controlled components. An FFL covers legal manufacture and transfer of firearms; ITAR registration covers export-controlled data, foreign-person access, and international movement of defense-related parts and information.

Design Considerations

  • Determine early whether your part or technical data is likely ITAR-controlled and flag this clearly in the RFQ, drawings, and CAD file names
  • Mark all shared documents with ITAR warnings and limit the data you send to only what a supplier needs to quote and manufacture
  • Avoid mixing ITAR and non-ITAR parts in the same RFQ or drawing package unless you label each item’s status clearly to prevent mishandling
  • Identify USML category or export-control guidance (if available) in your RFQ so suppliers can route it correctly and avoid delays
  • Specify any foreign-person restrictions at your company and in the supply chain so the shop can assign cleared personnel and plan capacity
  • Use separate, redacted models or print sets for non-ITAR vendors (e.g., commercial variants) to keep controlled features and data only with ITAR Registered suppliers