5 Ways Canadian Aluminum Gives the U.S. Military its Edge

5 Ways Canadian Aluminum Gives the U.S. Military its Edge

Canadian aluminum provides the U.S. military with a critical technological edge. Its versatility as a metal makes it incredibly valuable, as its uses range from reinforcing ship hulls to forging triggers and explosives.

In this graphic, Visual Capitalist has partnered with the Aluminum Association of Canada to explore how the U.S. military uses Canadian aluminum.

The Military Uses of Canadian Aluminum

According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, Canada supplies the U.S. with over half of the aluminum it consumes every year. Much of which is used by the U.S. military.

Here are five of the most common uses aluminum has in defense:

1) Extrusions: Extrusions are a very common end-use for aluminum. This is a manufacturing process that involves forcing a material through a die to create a specific shape. Aluminum extrusions are often used in shell casings, gun sights, and warhead fabrication.

2) Forged Applications: The U.S. military uses aluminum to manufacture specific and often intricate equipment, including triggers, casings for ordinance, and aircraft landing gears.  

3) Sheets and Plates: Aluminum’s weight and versatility make it perfect for the construction of vehicles and ships. The U.S. military uses aluminum, in particular, to construct hulls and fuselages, armor, and even chaff countermeasures.

4) Powders and Propellants: Aluminum, however, is more than just a construction material. In powder form, it also plays an important role in explosives, missile propellants, and spacecraft fuels.

5) Wires and Cables: Aluminum also provides a better conduction-to-weight ratio than copper. Thus, the U.S. military uses aluminum extensively in wiring, networking, communications, and guidance systems.  

Supporting Defense

Aluminum is the linchpin in maintaining U.S. military superiority. It has an incredible range of uses, from powders used in explosives to reinforcing the hulls of the largest aircraft carriers.