Procuring defence packaging involves strict requirements for standards, certification, testing and documentation. The correct declarations, test reports and technical documents demonstrate that packaging and transport meet the required criteria. A complete and well-managed documentation file helps prevent delays and supports a smooth procurement and approval process.
Summary of this article
When purchasing defense packaging, you need documentation proving that the packaging meets applicable military standards, test protocols, and transportation regulations. This includes declarations of conformity, test reports, material specifications, and — depending on the cargo — hazardous materials documentation. The exact documents required depend on the type of equipment, the destination, and the applicable standards. In this article, we answer the most frequently asked questions about documentation for military packaging.
Military packaging is governed primarily by MIL-SPEC and MIL-STD standards, supplemented by international standards such as ISTA test protocols and national standards. MIL-STD-2073 covers the packaging requirements for defense materiel, while MIL-STD-648 and MIL-PRF-121 set specific requirements for protective packaging and barrier materials. Which standard applies is determined by the type of equipment and the contracting authority.
Most defense contracts explicitly reference one or more of these standards in the specification or technical requirements. It is therefore essential that, as a supplier, you know exactly which standards apply before beginning design or production.
In addition to MIL standards, NATO standards also play a role — particularly for international contracts or deliveries to allied armed forces. STANAGs (Standardization Agreements) describe standardized procedures for the packaging, marking, and storage of military goods. Transport by sea, air, or land is further governed by IMO, IATA, and ADR regulations, depending on the mode of transport.
A thorough understanding of these standards is not a minor detail — it is the foundation of any serious bid or delivery to a defense customer. Without knowledge of the applicable standards, you risk having packaging rejected, deliveries delayed, or contracts terminated.
A supplier of defense packaging must be able to demonstrate, at a minimum, that the packaging was designed, produced, and tested in accordance with the required standards. The core documentation package consists of a declaration of conformity, technical drawings, material specifications, test reports, and a quality plan or production file.
In practice, a defense customer or procurement organization will request the following documents:
For complex or mission-critical packaging, the customer may additionally request a First Article Inspection (FAI) report, in which the first produced unit is inspected and approved before series production begins. This is standard practice on larger defense contracts.
A declaration of conformity is a formal document in which the supplier confirms in writing that the delivered packaging meets all applicable requirements, standards, and specifications. For defense packaging, this document explicitly references the relevant MIL standards, STANAG standards, or contract specifications that the packaging must satisfy.
A declaration of conformity is not the same as a test report. While a test report records the measured results of specific tests, a declaration of conformity is a legally binding confirmation by the supplier that the product meets the requirements. The supplier thereby assumes responsibility for the conformity of the delivered product.
A valid declaration of conformity for defense packaging typically contains the following elements:
Some defense customers use their own format for the declaration of conformity. Always verify whether the customer requires a specific form or whether your own declaration is sufficient.
Defense packaging is tested using standardized test protocols that simulate the stresses the packaging will encounter during transport, storage, and use. The most commonly used test methods are based on MIL-STD-810 for environmental testing and MIL-STD-648 for packaging performance. Test results are recorded in an official test report that becomes part of the product file.
MIL-STD-810 describes a comprehensive range of environmental tests, including shock, vibration, free fall, temperature cycling, humidity, and salt fog. These tests replicate the actual conditions under which military equipment is transported and stored. Packaging intended for defense use must demonstrably withstand the specific conditions outlined in the contract.
In addition to MIL standards, ISTA (International Safe Transit Association) test protocols are also used, particularly for commercially available packaging deployed in defense applications. ISTA test procedures are widely accepted and provide a standardized basis for demonstrating transit worthiness.
Certification is carried out by an accredited test laboratory that conducts the tests and reports the results. The test report is then reviewed by the procurement organization or a designated quality authority. Only after the test report and associated documentation have been approved is the packaging formally certified for use within the relevant defense contract.
In series production, it is standard practice not to fully test every unit, but rather to conduct periodic sampling to ensure ongoing conformity. This is documented in the quality plan.
Transporting hazardous military goods is subject to additional documentation requirements on top of standard packaging documentation. The applicable regulations depend on the mode of transport: ADR for road transport, IMDG for sea transport, and IATA DGR for air transport. In all cases, a correctly completed Dangerous Goods Declaration (DGD) is mandatory.
Military goods classified as hazardous are, in most cases, subject to the same international regulations as commercial dangerous goods. This includes ammunition, explosives, fuel, batteries, and chemical substances. The packaging itself must be approved for transporting the relevant hazardous material, as demonstrated by a UN mark on the packaging and the associated type approval documentation.
The documentation required for the transport of hazardous military goods includes:
Incorrect or incomplete documentation for hazardous military goods can result in shipments being held, fines, or — in the worst case — safety incidents. Always ensure that documentation is prepared by someone holding a valid IATA or ADR dangerous goods certification.
Primary responsibility for managing packaging documentation lies with the packaging supplier, though the contracting authority and the end user also play a role. The supplier is responsible for creating, maintaining, and providing all technical documentation upon request. The contracting authority manages the contract file and approval documents. The end user retains the relevant documents for use in the field or during maintenance.
In practice, defense contracts often use a Configuration Management system to centrally track all documents, revisions, and approvals. This ensures that all parties involved always work with the correct, current version of a document and that a complete audit trail is available.
Key considerations for effective documentation management in defense packaging:
Any changes to the design, material selection, or production process require all affected documents to be updated and re-approved. This applies even when the change appears minor. In the defense sector, documentation discipline is not a formality — it is an operational necessity.
A defence packaging solution is not complete simply because the case meets the technical requirements. For acceptance, audits and future modifications, it must also be demonstrable which requirements the solution was designed against, how it was tested and which configuration the supporting evidence applies to.
Documentation should therefore not be collected only at the end of a packaging project. Requirements, design choices, materials, testing and revisions need to be linked from the outset. Only then can a technical dossier be created that provides clear evidence of the packaging solution’s suitability, including at a later stage.
Our engineers start with the requirements specification, contractual specifications and the actual transport and operating conditions. Based on these, we determine which standards, test methods, acceptance criteria and supporting documents are relevant to the specific application.
Depending on the project, we can support you with:
This creates a traceable line from requirement to design, test result and approved packaging solution.
An approved packaging solution may change during its service life. This could involve a modified product, different protective interior material, an adapted construction or a new component supplier. Such a change may affect previous test results or the validity of existing documentation.
This is why managing the dossier is just as important as creating the original documentation. By linking revisions, material changes and test status to the correct configuration, it remains clear which version was assessed and which supporting evidence applies to it.
For defence packaging, a test report alone is not enough. What matters is whether the requirement, test method, acceptance criterion, packaging configuration and document revision can be demonstrably linked to one another. This reduces the risk of questions, additional testing or rejection during acceptance and delivery.
Do you have a requirements specification, tender document, existing packaging specification or technical dossier and want to know whether the required evidence is complete and logically structured? Put it to our specialists. We can identify which requirements, tests and documents are needed to demonstrably substantiate your packaging solution.
Michel Prins is Account Manager at Faes and a specialist in Safety & Security. Thanks to his background at the Ministry of Defense and years of experience in the sector, he advises organizations on reliable packaging solutions for critical applications. He combines practical knowledge with technical expertise to package sensitive equipment safely and efficiently.
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