ERP Software for Aerospace & Defense
Aerospace and defense manufacturers operate in one of the most heavily regulated environments in manufacturing, with AS9100 quality standards, ITAR/EAR export controls, DFARS cybersecurity requirements, and complex program-based accounting. ERP systems must support project manufacturing, long-lead-time procurement, MRO operations, configuration management, and full component traceability from raw material through decades of in-service life.
Compare ERP Systems for Aerospace & Defense
Select up to 4 ERP vendors to compare side by side. Filtered to show systems with strong aerospace & defense capabilities.
Key Challenges for Aerospace & Defense
Maintaining compliance with AS9100, ITAR, EAR, DFARS, and NIST 800-171 cybersecurity requirements simultaneously
Managing complex program accounting with earned value management (EVM) and progress billing across multi-year contracts
Tracking serialized components with full traceability and configuration control through decades-long product lifecycles
Coordinating long-lead-time procurement for specialty alloys, castings, and certified materials with limited supplier bases
Supporting MRO (maintenance, repair, and overhaul) workflows alongside new-build manufacturing in a single system
Managing engineering changes across in-production, in-service, and aftermarket configurations simultaneously
Meeting government contract cost accounting standards (CAS) and DCAA audit requirements
Best Aerospace & Defense ERP for SMBs
Recommended for companies with $10M–$250M revenue and 10–200 employees.
IFS Cloud
mid-rangeIndustry-leading A&D capabilities with native project manufacturing, MRO, fleet management, and defense contract management. Consistently top-ranked for aerospace and defense by analysts.
Best for: A&D manufacturers and MRO providers seeking purpose-built industry depth
Infor CloudSuite Aerospace & Defense
mid-rangeDeep A&D functionality built on Infor LN with program management, progress billing, export control, and configuration management tailored for aerospace suppliers and manufacturers.
Best for: Mid-size aerospace manufacturers and tier suppliers
Epicor Kinetic
mid-rangeSolid A&D capabilities for smaller manufacturers with job-based costing, lot/serial traceability, quality management, and ITAR access controls at a mid-market price point.
Best for: Smaller aerospace job shops and machining operations
SYSPRO
mid-rangeCost-effective option for small aerospace component manufacturers with good traceability, quality management, and production scheduling capabilities.
Best for: Small aerospace parts manufacturers seeking affordable ERP
Cetec ERP
budgetCloud-based ERP designed for small to mid-size contract electronics and aerospace manufacturers with strong quoting, job tracking, and quality management.
Best for: Small A&D contract manufacturers and electronics assemblers
Genius ERP
mid-rangeEngineer-to-order ERP with project-based manufacturing, estimating, and CAD integration suited for custom aerospace component and assembly manufacturers.
Best for: Engineer-to-order aerospace manufacturers
Best Aerospace & Defense ERP for Enterprise
Recommended for companies with $250M+ revenue and complex multi-site operations.
SAP S/4HANA (Aerospace & Defense)
enterpriseComprehensive enterprise platform with A&D industry solution including program management, earned value management, export compliance, MRO, and government contract accounting.
Best for: Large aerospace OEMs and prime defense contractors
Oracle Cloud ERP (Aerospace & Defense)
enterpriseFull cloud platform with project manufacturing, government contract management, grant accounting, and integrated supply chain for large A&D enterprises.
Best for: Large A&D enterprises pursuing cloud ERP transformation
IFS Cloud (Enterprise)
enterpriseWidely adopted by major A&D companies for its unmatched depth in project manufacturing, complex MRO, fleet and asset management, and defense program management.
Best for: A&D enterprises with complex MRO and program management needs
Infor LN (Aerospace & Defense)
enterpriseEnterprise-grade A&D ERP with multi-company, multi-site capabilities, program management, earned value, and deep configuration management for complex aerospace programs.
Best for: Multi-division aerospace enterprises with complex program structures
Essential ERP Capabilities for Aerospace & Defense
Program and project manufacturing with earned value management (EVM)
AS9100 quality management with first-article inspection and FAIR reporting
ITAR/EAR export compliance with access control and shipping restrictions
Serial and lot traceability with full as-built and as-maintained configuration records
MRO (maintenance, repair, overhaul) workflow management
Long-lead-time procurement with allocated and consigned inventory management
Progress billing, milestone billing, and government contract cost accounting (CAS)
Engineering change management with effectivity across multiple configurations
DFARS/NIST 800-171 cybersecurity compliance and controlled unclassified information (CUI) handling
Lifecycle configuration management tracking in-production and in-service configurations
Aerospace & Defense ERP Cost Ranges
SMB
$100,000 – $350,000
10–50 users
Implementation: $100,000 – $300,000
Mid-Market
$350,000 – $1,500,000
50–300 users
Implementation: $300,000 – $1,200,000
Enterprise
$2,000,000 – $10,000,000+
300–5,000+ users
Implementation: $3,000,000 – $15,000,000+
Implementation Considerations
Verify the ERP meets DFARS 252.204-7012 and NIST SP 800-171 cybersecurity requirements before selection, especially for cloud deployments
Plan for complex data migration of serialized part records, configuration baselines, and historical maintenance records
Ensure ITAR access controls can be enforced at the field level, not just the module level, to prevent unauthorized data exposure
Map government contract accounting requirements (CAS, FAR, DCAA) with your finance team before ERP configuration
Allow extended implementation timelines (12–24 months) to accommodate validation, compliance documentation, and security accreditation
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes aerospace and defense ERP different from general manufacturing ERP?
A&D ERP must support program-based accounting, earned value management, AS9100 quality standards, ITAR/EAR export compliance, DFARS cybersecurity, serialized traceability across decades-long lifecycles, and MRO operations. These requirements are far more stringent and complex than general manufacturing.
Which ERP vendors are strongest for aerospace and defense?
IFS is widely regarded as the leading A&D ERP for its depth in project manufacturing and MRO. SAP S/4HANA and Infor LN lead the enterprise segment. For mid-market A&D, Infor CloudSuite Aerospace & Defense and Epicor Kinetic are strong contenders.
How does ERP support ITAR compliance?
ERP enforces ITAR through role-based access controls restricting data visibility to U.S. persons, flagging ITAR-controlled items in inventory and BOMs, blocking shipments to embargoed destinations, maintaining export license tracking, and providing audit trails for all access to controlled technical data.
Can cloud ERP meet DFARS cybersecurity requirements?
Yes, but the cloud deployment must meet FedRAMP, DFARS 252.204-7012, and NIST SP 800-171 requirements. Vendors like IFS, SAP, and Oracle offer government cloud or dedicated hosting environments that meet these standards. Verify the vendor's specific compliance certifications before selection.
How important is MRO capability in an A&D ERP?
MRO is critical for A&D companies that service, repair, or overhaul aircraft, engines, or defense systems. ERP must track teardown and inspection, manage repair BOMs, handle exchange and loan units, maintain airworthiness records, and support complex warranty and contract billing for MRO operations.
What is earned value management and why does A&D ERP need it?
EVM is a project performance measurement technique required on most U.S. government defense contracts (per ANSI/EIA-748). ERP integrates EVM by tracking planned value, earned value, and actual cost at the work-breakdown-structure level to provide schedule and cost performance indices (SPI, CPI) for program reporting.
How long does an A&D ERP implementation typically take?
A&D implementations typically take 12–24 months due to the complexity of compliance requirements, data migration of serialized records, security accreditation processes, and extensive validation and testing needed to ensure regulatory compliance before go-live.
What traceability requirements exist for aerospace ERP?
Aerospace ERP must maintain full as-built records linking every serialized component to its parent assembly, lot certifications for raw materials, processing records (heat treat, NDT, plating), and as-maintained configuration records for in-service assets. This traceability must span the full product lifecycle, often 30+ years.
Explore Other Manufacturing ERP Guides
Related Research & Guides
Need help choosing an ERP for Aerospace & Defense?
Tell us about your operations and we'll recommend the best-fit ERP for your industry, company size, and budget.