Closed-die forgings
Formed between shaped dies to near-net shape. Suit repeat parts such as brackets, hubs, flanges, links and fittings. Tooling costs more, but machining and material are reduced and properties are repeatable from part to part.
Defence · Forged components
Aluminium Forgings for Military and Defence Programmes
Forgings carry the concentrated loads in defence equipment: landing gear and wing fittings, gun mounts and running gear, ship shafting brackets, missile body rings and radar bases. This page maps typical forged parts in each system to the aluminium alloys, tempers and specifications used for them, and sets out what to include in a forging enquiry. Metline supplies die, hand and rolled-ring forgings to drawing, with full traceability and mill certificates, to defence manufacturers worldwide.
- Forging types
- Die, hand (open-die), rolled ring
- Main alloys
- 7050 · 7075 · 2014 · 2219 · 6061
- Specifications
- AMS · ASTM B247 · EN 586 · MIL
- Condition
- As-forged, rough or finish machined
Why defence parts are forged
A forging is shaped by compressive deformation of a hot billet. The process closes internal porosity, breaks up the cast structure and lines up the grain flow with the outline of the part. The result is metal with higher fatigue strength, better fracture toughness and more consistent properties in all directions than a part machined from plate or bar.
Those properties matter most where a failure would be catastrophic and loads are cyclic or impulsive: landing impacts, gun recoil, blast, vibration from tracks and propellers, and the acceleration of a missile at launch. Defence programmes therefore specify forgings for primary load paths, and they usually demand full traceability, ultrasonic inspection and properties verified in several grain directions.
Aluminium forgings are chosen where weight is critical and service temperatures are moderate. High-strength 7xxx alloys dominate airframe and vehicle structures; 2xxx alloys cover parts that run warm or must be welded; 6061 is used for medium-strength, corrosion-resistant fittings in ships, shelters and ground equipment.
Die, hand and rolled-ring forgings
Hand (open-die) forgings
Worked between flat or simple dies into blocks, bars, discs and stepped shafts. Ideal for prototypes, small batches and very large parts, and for blocks that will be machined into complex housings.
Rolled rings
A pierced preform is rolled into a seamless ring with grain flow running round the circumference. Used for turret races, missile body rings, flanges, bearing housings and shaft rings.
Forged bar and shafts
Solid, hollow or flanged shafts for drive lines, axles and actuator rods, with better fatigue properties than extruded bar.
Forged discs and blocks
Discs for wheels, covers and seeker housings; blocks for gearbox casings, gyro platforms and electronics enclosures.
Precision forgings
Close-tolerance forgings with thin webs and minimal draft, reducing machining on high-volume parts.
Typical forged parts by defence system
| System | Typical forged parts | Common alloys and tempers |
|---|---|---|
| Military aircraft: landing gear | Support shafts, connecting links, gear flanges, shock-strut guides, mounting blocks | 7050-T74, 7075-T73, 2014-T6 |
| Airframe structure | Wing-to-body joints, spar fittings, frame forgings, mounting rings | 7050-T7452, 7075-T7352, 7085, 2024 |
| Flight controls and transmissions | Power transmission shafts, servo flanges, guide rings | 7075-T73, 2014-T6, 2618-T61 |
| Tanks and tracked vehicles | Gun mount supports, track drive shafts, hull flanges, turret race rings, connector plates | 7075, 7A52, 2014, 6061 |
| Wheeled armoured vehicles | Wheel hubs and axles, drive flanges, chassis rings, armour support blocks | 6061-T6, 6082-T6, 7075-T73 |
| Self-propelled artillery | Gun carriage plates, ammunition handling connectors, anchor shafts | 7075-T73, 2014-T6 |
| Surface ships | Steering gear bases, rudder supports, sealing flanges, frame rings, deck fittings | 5083-H112, 6061-T6, 6082-T6 |
| Submarine and underwater systems | Pressure housing end caps, thruster sleeves, sonar brackets, seal rings | 6061-T6, 7075-T73 (coated), 5083 |
| Weapons and fire control | Fire control bases, launch rail flanges, gyro housings, seeker supports, electro-optical brackets | 6061-T6, 7075-T73, 2024 |
| Missiles | Body rings, nozzle rings, motor case end rings, warhead nose blanks, control flanges | 2219-T6, 7075-T73, 7050-T74, 2014-T6 |
| Launch platforms | Launch tube flanges, hydraulic lift brackets, base support rings | 7075, 2014, 6061 |
| Radar, C2 and shelters | Radar pedestal bases, antenna mounting rings, equipment racks and docking rings | 6061-T6, 6082-T6, 2219 |
Alloy choices are typical starting points. The design authority sets the final alloy and temper; some parts in these systems are steel or titanium, which Metline does not supply.
Forging alloys, tempers and properties
Approximate specified minimums for thin die-forged sections (around 25 mm) are shown so alloys can be compared. Minimums fall with section thickness and differ between longitudinal and transverse directions; the governing specification and the certificate give the actual values for your part.
| Alloy and temper | Tensile strength (min) | Yield strength (min) | Character | Typical defence use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7050-T74 / T7452 | ≈ 495 MPa | ≈ 425 MPa | High strength with good toughness and stress-corrosion resistance in thick sections | Airframe bulkheads, landing gear, heavy fittings |
| 7075-T6 | ≈ 515 MPa | ≈ 440 MPa | Very high strength; lower stress-corrosion resistance | Thin, highly loaded parts in benign environments |
| 7075-T73 / T7352 | ≈ 455 MPa | ≈ 385 MPa | Over-aged for much better stress-corrosion resistance | Gun, vehicle and missile parts in humid or marine use |
| 2014-T6 | ≈ 450 MPa | ≈ 380 MPa | Strong, good forgeability, needs corrosion protection | Wheels, gear parts, brackets, artillery components |
| 2219-T6 | ≈ 400 MPa | ≈ 260 MPa | Weldable, keeps strength from cryogenic to about 250 °C | Missile and rocket rings, propellant tank fittings |
| 2618-T61 | ≈ 400 MPa | ≈ 310 MPa | Good creep and strength retention up to about 200 °C | Warm-running parts, compressor and engine fittings |
| 6061-T6 | ≈ 260 MPa | ≈ 240 MPa | Medium strength, weldable, good corrosion resistance | Naval fittings, vehicle hubs, shelters, electronics bases |
| 5083-O / H112 | ≈ 270 MPa | ≈ 110 MPa | Non-heat-treatable, excellent seawater resistance and weldability | Ship fittings, forged armour parts |
Where the old 7075-T6 temper is shown on legacy drawings, defence users increasingly specify T73 or T7352 for new parts because of stress-corrosion cracking in short-transverse loading. 7050 and 7085 extend high strength into thicker sections, where 7075 cannot be quenched fast enough to reach full properties.
Specifications for aluminium defence forgings
| Alloy | Tempers | Typical specifications |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | T6, T652 | AMS 4133 (and 4134, 4314 for hand forgings); ASTM B247; EN 586 |
| 2024 | T4, T6, T852 | ASTM B247; AMS-QQ-A-367 (legacy) |
| 2219 | T6, T852 | AMS 4143, 4144; ASTM B247 |
| 2618 | T61 | AMS 4132; ASTM B247 |
| 5083 | O, H111, H112 | ASTM B247; EN 586 |
| 6061 | T6, T652 | AMS 4127 (die forgings and rolled rings), AMS 4146; ASTM B247 |
| 6082 | T6 | EN 586 |
| 7050 | T74, T7452 | AMS 4107 (die forgings), AMS 4108 (hand forgings) |
| 7075 | T6, T73, T7352 | AMS 4126 (T6), AMS 4141 (T73 die forgings); ASTM B247 |
| Process standards | — | AMS 2770 heat treatment; AMS 2750 pyrometry; AMS-STD-2154 ultrasonic inspection |
AMS-QQ-A-367 and AMS-A-22771 remain on many legacy military drawings. SAE has stabilised AMS-A-22771 and points new designs to the alloy-specific AMS documents, so check with the design authority whether a substitution is accepted. National military standards such as GJB or HB can also be supplied against when named in the contract.
Inspection, traceability and confidentiality
- Traceability: heat, lot and serial records linking each forging to the cast, the forging operation, heat treatment and testing
- Mechanical testing: tensile tests from prolongations or sacrificial parts in the directions the specification requires (L, LT, ST)
- Ultrasonic inspection: to AMS-STD-2154 or the class on the drawing, usually Class A or AA for rotating and primary-structure parts
- Other NDT: penetrant inspection of finished surfaces, conductivity checks on 7xxx tempers, and hardness surveys
- Dimensional inspection: first-article inspection against the drawing, then sampling per the agreed plan
- Certification: EN 10204 3.1 mill certificates; third-party or customer inspection before dispatch on request
Drawings and programme details shared with Metline are used only to prepare the quotation and fulfil the order, and we review non-disclosure agreements before drawings are exchanged. Exports of defence-related parts may need end-user statements or licences under the rules of the shipping and receiving countries; we plan that documentation with you at quotation stage.
Design and fabrication advice for forged parts
Choose the route early
Batch size, size and complexity decide between open-die blocks machined to shape and closed-die forgings. Small batches and prototypes usually start as hand forgings; the die forging follows once the design is frozen.
Mind grain direction
Mark the principal load directions on the drawing so the forging can be oriented to put the best properties where stresses are highest, and avoid short-transverse tension on 7xxx parts.
Quench and section size
Thick sections cool slowly and lose strength. Keep sections as uniform as practical, rough machine before heat treatment where allowed, and pick 7050 or 7085 for very thick parts.
Residual stress
T652, T7352 and T7452 tempers include compression stress relief, which reduces distortion when the part is machined. Specify them for heavily machined parts.
Surface protection
Anodising (sulphuric or chromic replacement processes), conversion coating and primer are standard for 2xxx and 7xxx defence parts. Specify the system on the drawing.
Machining condition
State whether you want as-forged, rough-machined or finish-machined parts, and mark critical datums and tolerances for first-article inspection.
Typical defence forging examples
Vehicle wheel hub. A typical wheeled armoured vehicle hub is closed-die forged in 6061-T6 or 7075-T73, ultrasonically inspected, then machined for bearings and studs. Forging cuts unsprung mass compared with a steel hub and gives better fatigue life than a part machined from plate.
Missile body ring. A body joint ring is usually a seamless rolled ring in 2219-T6 or 7075-T73, rough machined before heat treatment so that the thin final wall reaches full properties, then finish machined with threads or bolt circles.
Turret race ring. Large-diameter rings in 7xxx alloys are ring-rolled to a near-net profile, heat treated, stress-relieved and machined. Roundness and flatness tolerances drive the choice of stress-relieved temper.
Radar pedestal base. A thick hand-forged 6061 or 2219 block is machined into a stiff, stable base that must hold antenna alignment through vibration and temperature cycles.
How to order defence forgings
- Send the drawingPart drawing or 3D model, alloy and temper, specification and revision, and quantity (prototype, pilot batch, production).
- Define inspectionUltrasonic class, test directions, first-article requirements, surface treatment and any witness inspection.
- Review and quoteWe confirm forging route, machining condition, documentation and delivery terms (EXW, FOB, CIF or DAP), and any export paperwork.
- Produce and inspectForgings are made, heat treated, tested and inspected to the agreed plan, with first-article reports on new parts.
- Pack and shipMachined surfaces are protected, parts are separated in fitted crates and shipped with EN 10204 3.1 certificates and traceability records.
References and standards
- ASTM B247 – Aluminum and Aluminum-Alloy Die Forgings, Hand Forgings and Rolled Ring Forgings
- SAE AMS 4107 – Aluminum Alloy Die Forgings, 7050-T74
- SAE AMS-A-22771 – Aluminum Alloy Forgings, Heat Treated
- EN 586 – Aluminium and aluminium alloys: forgings
- AMS-STD-2154 – Inspection, Ultrasonic, Wrought Metals
- ASM Handbook Vol. 14A – Metalworking: Bulk Forming (aluminium alloy forging)
Military aluminium (aluminum) forgings: frequently asked questions
Which aluminium alloys are used most for military forgings?
7050 and 7075 for highly loaded airframe, vehicle and weapon parts; 2014 and 2219 for parts that need forgeability, weldability or warm strength; 2618 for elevated temperatures; and 6061 or 5083 for corrosion-resistant naval and ground-equipment fittings.
Should I specify 7075-T6 or 7075-T73 for a defence forging?
T6 is about 10 – 15 % stronger, but T73 has far better resistance to stress-corrosion cracking. For parts loaded in the short-transverse direction or used in humid and marine environments, T73 or T7352 is normally preferred.
Can you supply forgings to AMS, MIL, ASTM or GJB standards?
Yes. Forgings are supplied to the specification and revision named on your drawing or order, with EN 10204 3.1 certificates. Tell us any ultrasonic class or test direction so the documentation can be agreed before production.
Do you supply prototypes and small batches?
Yes. Prototype and small batches are usually made as hand forgings machined to shape, which avoids die costs; closed-die tooling can follow when quantities justify it.
Can forgings be supplied machined?
Forgings can be supplied as-forged, rough machined (common before heat treatment on thick parts) or finish machined to drawing, with surface treatment if required.
How do you handle confidential drawings?
Drawings are used only for quotation and production, and we review non-disclosure agreements on request before you share them. Export documentation is planned with you at quotation stage.
Need forgings for a defence programme?
Send the drawing, alloy, temper, quantity and inspection requirements. Our team will reply with a forging route, documentation list and quotation.
