The legal entity registered with the destination country's customs authority is accountable for the imported shipment. For aerospace and defense equipment specifically, the IOR:
The legal entity registered with the origin country's export authority is accountable for the outbound shipment. For aerospace and defense equipment specifically, the EOR:
As your registered Importer of Record (IOR), IOR Service manages parallel compliance workstreams for aerospace and defense imports — customs compliance, export control coordination, civil airworthiness documentation, and audit-ready recordkeeping across the regulatory frameworks each shipment triggers.
We classify components under appropriate HS codes — 8802 for aircraft and spacecraft, 8803 for aircraft parts, 8526 for radar and navigational equipment. We determine whether items are subject to USML (defense articles under ITAR) or EAR Commerce Control List (dual-use). Misclassification of defense articles carries criminal liability — accountability sits with us, by status.
For ITAR-controlled defense articles, we coordinate DDTC licensing documentation flow — DSP-5 (permanent export), DSP-61 (temporary import), DSP-85 (re-export). For EAR dual-use items, we coordinate BIS export licenses where required and verify ECCN classification. Licensing itself is held by the manufacturer or exporter; we coordinate documentation flow as the IOR, integrated into the broader landscape of export control solutions shaping defense trade today.
We screen every transaction party — buyer, consignee, end-user, intermediaries — against the BIS Entity List, OFAC SDN List, DDTC Debarred List, EU Consolidated List, and equivalent. Defense sector screening discipline is more aggressive than in the commercial sector — defense end-use raises BIS Entity List exposure on every shipment, making pre-export screening for defence exports a systemic discipline rather than a per-shipment check.
For civil aerospace and MRO imports, we coordinate airworthiness documentation: FAA Form 8130-3 (Authorized Release Certificate) for US-bound parts, EASA Form 1 for EU-bound parts, type certificate references, and repair station certifications. Critical for parts entering operational aircraft fleets.
We file import declarations with HS code accuracy. We pay import duties, MPF, and HMF as the registered importer. DFARS 252.225 specialty metals considerations apply for US defense imports. Costs billed transparently to the client as part of the engagement.
For defense and dual-use imports, we document end-use and end-user statements. We verify the end user is not on restricted lists. End-use verification is critical for ITAR Category XV space systems, controlled avionics, and high-tech EAR items.
We maintain chain-of-custody records from origin to destination. Required for ITAR-controlled shipments — manufacturer through IOR through end-user — and increasingly required under CMMC for DoD supply chain participation.
Every shipment is documented to regulatory audit standards. Customs declarations, classification documentation, license records, end-user statements, and airworthiness certificates are retained in accordance with regulatory requirements. ITAR records: 5-year minimum under 22 CFR 122.5. EAR records: 5 years. Civil airworthiness: typically component lifetime.
Aerospace and defense imports encompass civil and military equipment, each with distinct regulatory pathways. Each category triggers distinct customs classification, export control review, and country-specific certification requirements.
Commercial aircraft structural components — fuselage sections, wing assemblies, empennage. Engines and propulsion from GE Aerospace, Pratt & Whitney, Rolls-Royce, Safran, and MTU Aero Engines. Landing gear, hydraulic systems, environmental control systems. Subject to FAA Part 145 and EASA Part 145 airworthiness documentation.
Military aircraft components, weapons systems components, military electronic systems, radar systems, electronic warfare equipment, secure communications, military-grade encryption. ITAR-controlled under 22 CFR Parts 120-130. USML Categories I through XXI apply. DDTC licensing required for US imports and exports of defense articles.
Flight management and navigation systems from Honeywell, Collins Aerospace, Garmin, Thales, L3Harris. Cockpit display systems, autopilot, weather radar. Many avionics are dual-use — civilian and military applications trigger ITAR or EAR review, depending on end use.
Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul components for commercial and military aircraft. AOG (Aircraft on Ground) emergency spares. Engine consumables, hydraulic seals, structural fasteners, and avionics modules for replacement. Time-critical shipments with airworthiness documentation requirements.
Satellites and satellite components (commercial and government), launch vehicle components, ground station equipment, satellite communications hardware. Subject to ITAR or EAR depending on classification. USML Category XV covers spacecraft and related articles.
Unmanned Aerial Systems — military and commercial drones, ground control stations, payload systems. Ground Support Equipment — tugs, GPUs, ASUs, de-icing equipment. UAS may be ITAR-controlled depending on its capabilities and end use.
IOR Service pricing for aerospace and defense imports is structured around four variables:
Regulatory pathway — defense article (ITAR/USML) imports carry higher compliance overhead than civil aerospace airworthiness pathways
Classification and licensing complexity — dual-use items requiring USML/CCL classification analysis and end-use verification add scope
Chain-of-custody documentation scope — ITAR-controlled shipments require manufacturer-through-end-user chain of custody documentation
Shipment cadence and program continuity — continuous defense supply chain programs are priced differently from one-off MRO shipments
GPUs, AI accelerators, servers, storage, networking. ECCN classification, BIS Entity List, and AI Diffusion Rule compliance
55G base stations, routers, switches, fiber-optic systems. Type approval and spectrum licensing across regulators
Hyperscale deployments, edge data center hardware. Multi-jurisdictional shipments synchronized across destination markets.
Connected medical devices, diagnostic equipment. FDA, CE, and SFDA registration management.
Smart manufacturing, sensors, control systems, robotics. Machinery directive compliance and industrial standards
Solar panels, inverters, battery systems. Project-scale imports and country-specific energy certifications
ADAS, EV drivetrains, connected vehicle components. Country-specific homologation and type approval.
Available on request
Shared after initial assessment.25+ Years of International Trade & Compliance Leadership
Backed by decades of experience in global trade, IOR Service delivers the compliance frameworks, regulatory oversight, and market-entry expertise required for successful international operations. From highly regulated industries to complex cross-border projects, we help organizations move forward with certainty.