Military Aircraft
Engines, landing gear, electrical bays, actuators, and cabin or entry systems.
Retaining Rings & Wave Springs for Military & Defense Applications
Military-standard retaining rings and wave springs for military aircraft, ground vehicles, and naval systems.
Engineered for the Demands of Defense Systems
Military and defense systems can face shock and high vibration, temperature extremes, salt spray and other corrosive environments, and long service-life requirements. Rotor Clip manufactures tapered section, constant section, and spiral retaining rings, for secure retention and wave springs for controlled spring force across aerospace, ground, and naval applications.
Backed by nearly 70 years of manufacturing experience, AS9100-certified quality systems, and in-house manufacturing and engineering, Rotor Clip supports defense programs from part selection and design evaluation through qualification and production.
Military-Standard (MS) Retaining Rings
Rotor Clip manufactures retaining rings to military standards, including commonly specified MS16624 external retaining rings and MS16625 internal retaining rings, with controlled production, material traceability, and quality documentation for defense requirements.
- Military-Standard Part Availability
- CAGE Code 07382
- DFARS 252.225-7009 Conformance
- Part Traceability & Documentation
- MS Parts Made in the USA
Cross-Reference Your MS Part Number
Have an MS or competitor retaining ring part number? Use Rotor Clip’s product search to quickly identify the corresponding Rotor Clip part and review available specifications.
Find your Rotor Clip Equivalent Download the Interchange Chart
Material Options for Demanding Defense Environments
Rotor Clip maintains one of the industry’s largest raw-material inventories, with more than 100,000 sq. ft. of carbon steels, stainless steels, and specialty alloys stocked across our U.S. and European operations. Access to commonly specified and hard-to-source materials can help reduce procurement lead times and support reliable production for military and defense programs.
Common defense materials include carbon spring steel, 302 and 17-7 PH stainless steel, and specialty alloys such as A286, Inconel X-750, and Elgiloy. For highly corrosive service, 316 stainless steel and other corrosion-resistant alloys are also available. Material selection can be tailored to temperature, load, and other application requirements.
See common military material and finish combinations, MS codes, and Rotor Clip suffixes in the table below.
| MS Code | Ring Type | Material & Finish | Rotor Clip Suffix |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tapered | Carbon Steel Cadmium Plated | ST MCD |
| 2 | Tapered | Carbon Steel Zinc Dichromate Plated | ST MZD |
| 3 | Tapered | Carbon Steel Phosphated | ST MPD |
| 4 | Tapered | Stainless Steel Passivated | SS MPS |
| 5 | Tapered | Beryllium Copper | BC MTM |
| 5***-1 | Tapered | Beryllium Copper Cadmium Plated | BC MCD |
| A | Spiral | Carbon Steel Plain | ST SPM OIL |
| B | Spiral | Carbon Steel Cadmium Plated | ST SPM MCD |
| C | Spiral | Carbon Steel Phosphated | ST SPM MPD |
| D | Spiral | Stainless Steel Passivated | SJ SPM MP3 |
DFARS 252.225-7009 Specialty Metals Conformance
Rotor Clip can certify applicable parts as conforming to DFARS 252.225-7009, which requires covered specialty metals to be melted or produced in the United States, its outlying areas, or a qualifying country, subject to the requirements and exceptions of the clause. This certification applies specifically to the specialty-metals requirements of DFARS and does not represent compliance with DFARS in its entirety.
Retaining Rings & Wave Springs in Defense Applications
Rotor Clip retaining rings and wave springs are used in assemblies across military aircraft, helicopters, ground vehicles, and naval systems.
Common application areas include:
Military Helicopters
Actuation systems, electric motors, hinges, bearings, and circular connectors.
Armored Ground Vehicles
Foot pedals, CV joints, clutches, and hydraulic cylinders.
Naval Vessels
Pumps, valves, rotary unions, electric motors, and circular connectors.
Aircraft Engine with Constant Section Ring (Snap Ring)
Transmission with Snap Rings & Wave Spring
Hydraulic Cylinder with Constant Section Ring (Snap Ring)
Rotary Union with Spiral Ring
Pump with Single-Turn Wave Spring
Linear Actuator with Tapered Section Retaining Ring (Circlip)
See Rotor Clip Parts Inside an Aircraft
Rotor Clip retaining rings and wave springs may be small, often hidden deep inside an aircraft, but they play an important role in keeping aircraft systems operating as designed. Engineered to withstand extreme temperatures, vibration, and high-speed rotation, these parts provide reliable retention and spring force in demanding environments.
Watch our video to see where Rotor Clip parts can be found throughout an aircraft and how they support the systems around them.
Traceable Quality for Defense Programs
Defense programs depend on documented quality. Rotor Clip maintains lot traceability from incoming raw material through manufacturing and final shipment, supported by in-house testing, inspection, and available quality documentation.
Our Quality Program Includes:
- AS9100-certified quality system
- Full lot traceability
- In-house testing & inspection
- Certificates of conformance, material certifications, and first article inspection reports available on request.
Engineering Support Built Around Your Application
Rotor Clip engineers work directly with your team from prototype through production to evaluate application requirements, recommend the right retaining ring or wave spring, and identify potential issues before they affect qualification. Global network of engineering and local customer support for defense programs wherever your team is operating.
FAQs About Retaining Rings & Wave Springs for Defense Applications
Yes. Rotor Clip manufactures military-standard retaining rings in the United States, including commonly specified MS16624 external (shaft) rings in the SH series and MS16625 internal (housing) rings in the HO series. Military-standard rings are available in specified material and finish combinations, and Rotor Clip’s CAGE Code is 07382.
Yes. Rotor Clip’s product search and interchange resources allow you to cross-reference military and competitor retaining ring part numbers to corresponding Rotor Clip equivalents.
Rotor Clip can certify applicable parts as conforming to DFARS 252.225-7009, which addresses restrictions on certain specialty metals used in defense articles. Requirements and applicable exceptions should be confirmed for the specific part and program.
Rotor Clip offers carbon steels, stainless steels, beryllium copper, and specialty alloys such as Inconel X-750, A286, and Elgiloy, with availability varying by product. Military-specified material and finish combinations are also available for applicable retaining rings.
Yes. Rotor Clip can design and manufacture custom retaining rings and wave springs to meet specific dimensions, loads, tolerances, materials, thicknesses, number of turns or waves, coiling direction, end configurations, and other application requirements.
Rotor Clip operates under an AS9100-certified quality management system and provides lot traceability, in-house testing and inspection, and supporting documentation for defense applications. Parts can be traced from raw material through shipment, helping customers verify quality and support program requirements.
MS16624 identifies external retaining rings installed in shaft grooves and corresponds to Rotor Clip’s SH series. MS16625 identifies internal retaining rings installed in housing or bore grooves and corresponds to Rotor Clip’s HO series.
More than Parts. A True Partnership.
Our passion is creating the best rings, springs, and clamps. Our mission is to make your work a success. We are here for you.