Industry

Defense manufacturing

Defense programs cover precision-machined, welded and treated components, with the traceability and documentation the customer requires. Start a manufacturing project with the drawings, the material grade and the quality system the program names.

Typical volumes
Prototypes to low and medium series
Key certification
AS9100 or ISO 9001
Traceability
EN 10204 3.1 / 3.2
Approval
First article inspection

Overview

Defense programs combine high-strength materials with strict configuration control and documentation. Typical work includes machined housings and structural parts for vehicles and systems, welded frames, armour-related parts and precision mechanisms. Buyers usually require an AS9100 or ISO 9001 quality system, full material traceability and first article inspection.

Türkiye has one of the fastest-growing defense industries in Europe, with a large supplier base around Ankara and in organised industrial zones across the country that supports land, naval and aerospace platforms.

On Metraxio you describe the part, attach drawings and state material, quantity and the certifications you need. The platform structures the requirement and shows which facilities are a technical fit. Export-controlled items remain subject to applicable export regulations.

Typical parts & components

  • Machined housings, covers and mounting plates
  • Welded steel and aluminium frames and structures
  • Precision mechanisms, shafts and gears
  • Vehicle components and brackets
  • Sheet-metal cabinets and electronics enclosures
  • Forged and heat-treated high-strength parts
  • Surface-treated and painted parts to military specifications

The processes, materials and requirements below are an editorial reference of what is typical for defense programs — not a statement about facilities in the Metraxio network.

Common manufacturing processes

Typical materials & grades

Certifications & compliance

What buyers in this industry commonly ask suppliers for. Exact requirements depend on the program, customer and part.

Supplier certifications

  • AS9100 Common

    Common for aerospace-related defense programs.

  • ISO 9001 Typically required

    Baseline quality system.

  • ISO 3834 Common

    Welding quality system for welded structures.

  • Nadcap Sometimes requested

    For special processes in aerospace programs.

Standards & regulations

  • EN 10204 Type 3.1 Typically required

    Material certificate for metallic raw material.

  • EN 10204 Type 3.2 Common

    Independently verified certificate for critical material.

  • ISO 2768 Common

    General tolerances on drawings.

Quality & documentation

  • First article inspection and dimensional reports.
  • Full material traceability with EN 10204 3.1 or 3.2 certificates.
  • Welding to qualified procedures and certified welders.
  • Configuration and revision control of drawings.
  • Certificates of conformity and NDT reports where specified.

Typical tolerances & surfaces

  • Machined functional features: typically ±0.01–0.05 mm.
  • Welded structures: tolerances per the drawing and the applicable welding standard.
  • Surface roughness: commonly Ra 0.8–3.2 µm on machined surfaces.
  • Painted parts: coating thickness and colour to the specified standard.

Sourcing from Türkiye

Türkiye combines a deep contract-manufacturing base with short routes into Europe. Industrial goods move between Türkiye and the EU under the customs union, so buyers typically avoid EU import duties on qualifying parts.

  • Many European destinations can be reached by road within several days; actual transit depends on origin, destination, customs handling and cargo.
  • Common delivery terms are EXW, FCA and DAP; Metraxio keeps the agreed Incoterm attached to the quotation and order.
  • Export-controlled parts may need end-user documentation and licences; clarify this before sharing technical data.

How Metraxio qualifies suppliers

Every request is checked against each facility's structured profile before any supplier is invited.

  • Hard criteria: the required process (e.g. CNC machining or welding), the specified material and grade, and required certifications such as AS9100 or ISO 3834.
  • Missing data is not a rejection. If a facility profile does not yet state something, the result is "Needs More Information" rather than "Not Qualified".
  • No match yet? You can continue with Managed Sourcing and the Metraxio team runs supplier discovery for you.
  • Facility identities stay anonymous during the technical assessment.

Example project

How a typical request moves through Metraxio

200 pcs machined aluminium housings — 6082-T6 — hard anodised — FCA.

  • The buyer uploads drawings for an electronics housing with tight flatness on the sealing face.
  • Metraxio structures the requirement: CNC milling, aluminium 6082, hard anodising, ISO 9001 and FCA delivery.
  • The fit assessment shows which facilities are qualified, which need more information and which do not match.
  • The buyer invites qualified facilities to a Supplier RFQ, or hands the job to Managed Sourcing.
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Frequently asked questions

Which quality system do defense suppliers need?

It depends on the program. AS9100 is common for aerospace-related defense work; ISO 9001 with additional customer requirements is common elsewhere.

Can export-controlled parts be sourced through Metraxio?

The platform structures technical requirements, but export control obligations remain with the buyer and supplier. Clarify licensing before sharing controlled technical data.

Do suppliers handle armour steel and high-strength alloys?

Some do. Material and grade are part of your requirement, so facilities are assessed on whether they process the material you specify.

What welding qualifications are typical?

ISO 3834 for the welding quality system and qualified procedures to ISO 15614 or AWS standards, with certified welders.

Are supplier names visible during the assessment?

No. Facilities are shown anonymously during the technical assessment. Identities are shared as the engagement progresses.

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Start a Manufacturing Project

Describe your defense part, attach drawings and see which facilities are a technical fit before you request quotes.