Iran War Exposes US Military Aluminum Risk Shown in Pentagon War Game

Pentagon War Game Exposed a Critical US Aluminum Risk Months Before Iran Attacks Supplies of an ultra-refined form of the metal used in fighter jets are tight after drones damaged a UAE plant. Last summer, about 80 government officials and industry executives gathered in Washington to answer a key question: How would the US aluminum supply chain hold up in the event of a major global conflict? The answer: potentially not well. That’s according to an analysis of the war simulation exercise, the details of which have not previously been reported. High-purity aluminum — an ultra-refined form used by the military for fighter jets and armored vehicles — emerged as a critical vulnerability. The metal is a niche, specialty material that accounts for a small share of the overall market but is crucial for defense and the aerospace industry.