AS9100 sets the common quality management requirements used across the global aerospace supply chain, supporting consistent safety, reliability, and performance in aviation, space, and defense activities.

First published in 1999, AS9100 replaced AS9000 by extending the earlier U.S.-focused model into a single, internationally aligned standard. It is based on ISO 9001 and adds aerospace-specific requirements developed by the industry to address regulatory, safety, and operational risks throughout the product life cycle.

• The standard fully incorporates ISO 9001 and supplements it with additional requirements tailored to aerospace activities.

• It applies to organizations involved in design, development, production, installation, and servicing.

• Certification to AS9100 is widely required by major aerospace manufacturers and defense contractors.

The requirements in AS9100 are intended to complement, not replace, customer-specific and statutory or regulatory requirements, which continue to take precedence where applicable.

AS9100 is developed and governed by the International Aerospace Quality Group (IAQG) and published by regional standards bodies, including SAE International in the Americas, with oversight from the G-14 Americas Aerospace Quality Standards Committee. This structure ensures that the standard is technically identical worldwide, regardless of where it is published or certified.

Over successive revisions, AS9100 has placed increasing emphasis on risk management. From its first edition, the standard required risk assessment during contracting. Later updates integrated operational risk into production and delivery, and the current version of the standard, AS9100D, the fifth edition, was released in 2016 and strengthened requirements related to product safety, prevention of counterfeit parts, leadership responsibility, and operational risk management.

IAQG is preparing the next edition under the designation IA9100, scheduled for publication alongside ISO 9001:2026 so that aerospace quality requirements remain aligned with the updated ISO quality management framework and will be issued under the IA prefix as part of IAQG’s global publishing agreement with SAE International, while continuing to address sector-specific risks and safety expectations. More information about AS9100 is available on the official SAE International standards page