Titanium crunch and the impact on aerospace manufacturing

September 22, 2022 | By Commander Vimal Nagpal (retired), Naval Aviation and Aerospace Industry Expert at Gravitas

Titanium is light, less corrosive, hyper-resistant, and has non-expansion properties hence is widely used in modern composite aircraft. Titanium does not expand and contract in the same way as older aluminum aircraft do. Russia is the third-largest exporter of Titanium in the world. It is a direct supplier to aircraft engines manufacturing companies such as Boeing, Airbus, and Safran. Titanium is a key material and is used extensively in manufacturing aircraft/helicopter components including landing gear, pylons, door frames, helicopter main rotors, engine compressors, and turbine blades.

The crunch in Titanium supply has started to affect the manufacturing of aircraft components, and the effect is felt more by European manufacturers, as the American aerospace companies have a stockpile for domestic production.

If the Russia-Ukraine conflict continues, the sanctions imposed on Russia for a prolonged period would restrict the world's Titanium supply. Smaller aviation companies would be the most affected by the shortage, impacting their sales and profitability in the long run. Alternative suppliers include China and Japan which could ramp up the supply of Titanium.

Watch this space for a detailed analysis of the Russia-Ukraine conflict and its impact on the aerospace industry.

About the author

Commander Vimal Nagpal is a retired Naval veteran with over 35 years of experience in Aerospace, Business Development, Operations, and Leadership. Commander Vimal Nagpal is a retired Naval veteran with over 35 years of experience in Aerospace, Business Development, Operations, and Leadership.

Vimal believes in leading from the front and leveraging his strong acumen for developing teams for business growth. During his career in the Navy and the commercial sector, Vimal has set up and led new organizations, establishing strategic plans, procedures, and operations successfully. Vimal is the Aerospace Industry expert at Gravitas Consulting.

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