AQAP 2110

Author: Maren Fichtner | October 2, 2026

Definition: What is AQAP 2110?

AQAP 2110 (Allied Quality Assurance Publication 2110) is a NATO standard that specifies the quality assurance requirements for the design, development, and production of defense equipment. It is based on the structure of ISO 9001 and supplements it with military-specific requirements for configuration management, reliability verification, and a systematic failure reporting and corrective action system (FRACAS), as required for defense systems with lifecycles ranging from 30 to 50 years.

Publisher: NATO Standardization Office (NSO)

Current edition: AQAP 2110 Edition D

Who is AQAP 2110 intended for?

The standard is intended for manufacturers and suppliers of defense equipment who fulfill contracts from NATO member states or national defense agencies such as the Federal Office for Equipment, Information Technology, and Utilization of the Bundeswehr (BAAINBw) – ranging from weapons systems and armored vehicles to communications and electronic systems. AQAP 2110 is frequently incorporated as a contractual requirement in procurement procedures.

Overview of core requirements

ISO 9001 Basis: full implementation of the general quality management requirements
Configuration management: complete documentation of every revision throughout the entire system lifecycle
FRACAS: structured Failure Reporting, Analysis, and Corrective Action System for failures in the field and in manufacturing
Reliability and maintainability verification: verification of the required service life and maintainability
Regulatory quality assurance: integration of government acceptance agencies directly into the manufacturing process
Traceability: assignment of each component to a batch, production status, and the personnel responsible

Difference from AS9100D

AQAP 2110 is specifically tailored to defense equipment and the requirements of NATO and national defense procurement agencies, with a particular focus on configuration management over decades and FRACAS. AS9100D, on the other hand, is the cross-industry quality standard for the aerospace and defense industries as a whole and is issued by an accredited certification body, whereas AQAP 2110 is assessed by government quality assurance agencies. Since the substantive requirements overlap significantly, many suppliers with ties to the aerospace and defense sectors are certified to both standards simultaneously.

Consequences of noncompliance

Missing or unverifiable quality documentation directly results in acceptance delays by BAAINBw or NATO acceptance agencies and may lead to contractual penalties. Since defense contracts typically span decades and include retrofits and spare parts deliveries, the loss of AQAP compliance jeopardizes not only a single contract but the entire supplier relationship throughout the system’s entire life cycle.

Frequently asked questions about AQAP 2110

Is AQAP 2110 required by law?

No, but procurement agencies such as the BAAINBw regularly require it contractually as a condition of the contract.

What is the difference between this and ISO 9001?

AQAP 2110 fully incorporates ISO 9001 and supplements it with military-specific requirements such as configuration management and FRACAS.

What is the difference between this and AS9100D?

AQAP 2110 is specifically designed for defense equipment and NATO procurement, while AS9100D is the cross-industry standard for the aviation and defense sectors as a whole.

Who conducts the certification?

National quality assurance agencies acting on behalf of NATO; in Germany, the BAAINBw.

Successfully implementing AQAP 2110

The biggest operational challenge lies in seamless configuration management: Which component revision was installed at the time of shipment, and which was retrofitted later in the field? Connected worker platforms like weasl manage work and test instructions in an audit-traceable manner, link certification records directly to process approvals, and provide acceptance reports without creating mountains of paperwork.

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