HITEC Sensors wins AS9100D certification at U.S. facility

Humanetics Sensors’ HITEC Sensors has earned AS9100D design and production certification at its ITAR-registered U.S. facility in Chelmsford, Massachusetts. The certification expands domestic aerospace and defense supply options for programs including advanced fighters, autonomous systems and future vertical lift. Why it matters: - The certification opens U.S.-based sensor manufacturing for aerospace and defense programs that require domestic supply, export-controlled handling and production traceability. - HITEC Sensors can now support customers across prototype instrumentation, certification testing and production aircraft delivery from its U.S. facility. - The qualification strengthens supply-chain flexibility for primes and Tier 1 suppliers working on next-generation aircraft and other sensitive platforms. What happened: - HITEC Sensor Developments, part of Humanetics Sensors, announced that its U.S. facility achieved AS9100D design and production certification. - The facility is in Chelmsford, Massachusetts, and is ITAR-registered. - The certification was announced on June 17, 2026. - HITEC Sensors is a U.S.-based designer and manufacturer of custom strain gauge force and torque sensors. The details: - AS9100D is the aerospace and defense quality standard that extends ISO 9001 with requirements for risk management, configuration control, product traceability to the individual component level, counterfeit parts prevention and product safety. - HITEC’s U.S. certification expands an AS9100-certified aerospace manufacturing footprint that already includes operations in Sri Lanka. - HITEC’s Sri Lanka facility has supported aerospace programs since 2009. - The company’s U.S. facility can support aerospace and defense applications in addition to its existing roles in flight test instrumentation, structural test and certification testing. - HITEC says the certification positions the company to support sixth-generation fighter aircraft, autonomous collaborative platforms, future vertical lift, advanced composite commercial airframes and supersonic flight. - As an ITAR-registered organization, HITEC supports programs that require compliant handling of export-controlled technical data, secure engineering collaboration and U.S.-based manufacturing. - George Low, general manager of HITEC Sensors, said the certification lets HITEC U.S. support customers across the full program lifecycle from prototype instrumentation through certification testing to production aircraft delivery. - Barnaby Loehnis, president of Humanetics Sensors, said the milestone validates HITEC as a U.S.-based partner for aerospace and defense primes and broadens collaboration across the Humanetics Sensors group. - Loehnis said the broader group can combine HITEC’s custom strain gauge and force sensing with Fibercore’s optical fibers used in navigational gyroscopes and structural health monitoring of composite airframes. - HITEC traces its aerospace pedigree to more than 50 years of custom force and torque sensor design. - The company cites specialty capabilities including Rokide flame spray and ceramic strain gauging for high-temperature aerospace engine development, including supersonic regimes. - The AS9100D certificate is available on request from HITEC Sensors. - HITEC invites aerospace and defense customers, primes and Tier 1 suppliers to contact its commercial team about program requirements. - Learn more at HITEC Sensors . Between the lines: - The timing aligns with a broader push for domestic aerospace and defense sourcing, which makes U.S. manufacturing credentials more valuable in procurement decisions. - The new certification gives HITEC a clearer path into higher-value production work, not just test and prototype roles. - The Humanetics Sensors group appears to be positioning its businesses as a broader sensing platform, with HITEC focused on mechanical sensing and Fibercore on optical sensing. What’s next: - HITEC Sensors is likely to market the U.S. facility more aggressively to primes and Tier 1 suppliers seeking certified domestic supply. - The company is positioning the certification as a gateway to broader participation in future aerospace and defense programs. - Customers can request the certificate and discuss program needs directly with HITEC’s commercial team. The bottom line: - HITEC Sensors now has a certified U.S. manufacturing base for aerospace and defense sensors, expanding its role from testing support into production supply for sensitive programs.