ITAR (International Traffic in Arms Regulations)
Definition
ITAR (International Traffic in Arms Regulations) is a set of United States regulations that control the export and handling of defense articles, defense services, and related technical data covered by the US Munitions List. It governs who may access, handle, and transfer these controlled items.
Why it matters
For defense sourcing, ITAR compliance is a gating requirement. When a component or its technical data is ITAR-controlled, only registered, compliant parties may handle it, and sharing with foreign persons or entities is restricted. That narrows the eligible supplier pool and makes ITAR status a supplier-qualification question alongside AS9100 and AS9120. It often overlaps with MIL-SPEC parts and programs.
Related terms
- MIL-SPEC (MIL-STD): military specifications frequently attached to ITAR-controlled hardware.
- COTS (Commercial Off-The-Shelf): commercial parts that may fall outside ITAR control.
3E Technology helps defense buyers find suppliers and reach them directly to confirm compliance. See the aerospace and defense use case.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is ITAR?+
ITAR (International Traffic in Arms Regulations) is a set of United States government regulations that control the export and handling of defense articles, defense services, and related technical data listed on the US Munitions List. It restricts who may access, handle, and transfer covered items.
How does ITAR affect component sourcing?+
If a part or its technical data is ITAR-controlled, only registered and compliant parties may handle it, and transfers to foreign persons or entities are restricted. Buyers in defense supply chains must source ITAR-controlled items from suppliers who are ITAR-compliant, which narrows the pool of eligible sources.
Related Resources
MIL-SPEC (MIL-STD)
MIL-SPEC and MIL-STD are US military specifications and standards defining performance and testing for defense parts. Here's what they mean for sourcing.
AS9100
AS9100 is the aerospace quality management standard for manufacturers, built on ISO 9001. Here's what it covers and how it relates to AS9120 for distributors.
AS9120
AS9120 is the quality management standard for distributors of aerospace parts, adding traceability and counterfeit controls to ISO 9001. Here's what it covers.
COTS (Commercial Off-The-Shelf)
COTS parts are commercially available products used as-is instead of custom or military-grade ones. Here's the tradeoff COTS brings to sourcing.
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