Titanium alloys lead the way in military materials.

During the "14th Five-Year Plan" period, the acceleration of modernization of defense equipment, the transformation of the army's equipment towards lightweight/high-strength, and the continuous high growth of military trade exports jointly drove the development of titanium alloys (and titanium materials). As the core structural materials, titanium alloys, along with small metals such as germanium, cobalt, antimony, nickel, and copper, which play irreplaceable roles in military electronics, high-temperature alloys, flame-retardant materials, etc., the related industrial chain is now facing a historic opportunity period of "demand explosion" and "domestic substitution" combined.
1. The upgrading of military equipment gives rise to the demand for titanium alloys
Titanium alloys, due to their low density (4.5g/cm³, approximately 57% of steel), high specific strength (tensile strength exceeding 1000 MPa), excellent corrosion resistance and resistance to high and low temperatures, have become key materials for aviation, aerospace, naval vessels and ground equipment. In the field of the army, the application of titanium alloys is expanding from non-load-bearing components to main load-bearing structures, and the demand for them in equipment such as tank armored vehicles, self-propelled artillery, and mortars has significantly increased.
Tank and armored vehicle: Titanium alloy replacing steel becomes a trend
Currently, the main tanks of the Chinese Army include the 96 series and the 99 series. Some of the earlier models (such as the improved 59 series) have been in service for nearly 30 years. According to the "China's National Defense in the New Era" white paper, during the "14th Five-Year Plan" period, the Army will focus on achieving mechanization, informatization and intelligence transformation, and the renewal and upgrading of main battle equipment is the core task.
The traditional steel armor accounts for an excessively high proportion of the total weight (for example, the total weight of the Type 99 tank is approximately 58 tons). The application of titanium alloy can effectively reduce the weight by 15% to 20%, significantly enhancing the mobility. Titanium alloy can be functionally equivalent to some depleted uranium armor in terms of performance, with lower costs and no radiation risks. Currently, titanium alloy has been adopted in batches for key parts such as the vehicle body frame, turret base ring, suspension system (such as torsion bars), and engine compartment heat dissipation structure.
2. Mortar: Lightweight technology drives the demand for titanium alloys
The mortar, as an accompanying fire support for infantry, has extremely high requirements for rapid deployment and concealment. The weight of the traditional steel/iron barrel accounts for more than 40% of the total weight of the entire gun. However, the titanium alloy barrel can achieve a 30%-40% weight reduction while enhancing the erosion resistance. According to the 2023 Zhuhai Airshow, China's new 120mm mortar uses a combination of titanium alloy barrel and carbon fiber maintenance wood, reducing the single gun weight from 35kg to 22kg. A single soldier can carry two combat mortars, significantly enhancing the firepower density of the team.