The Aerospace and Defense industry consists of companies that manufacture a variety of items including commercial aircraft, aerospace and defense products, and aircraft parts; these companies are also often government contractors for defense. About a quarter of the industry's revenues are represented by the manufacturing of commercial aircrafts. The largest segment of the industry is represented by aerospace and defence parts manufacturing.

This industry operates globally, with customers also found globally. Defense contracts are often for technologies such as missiles, naval ships, space vehicles, and ammunition, and make up about a fourth of the industry's revenues. The top sustainability concerns within this industry consist of waste management, product emissions, manufacturing energy, and energy efficiency.