Iranian Drone Strikes Disrupt U.S. Military Aluminum Supply

A July 2025 war simulation by the United States Department of Defense accurately predicted a critical vulnerability in the U.S. supply chain for high-purity aluminum, a metal essential for armored vehicles and fighter jets. These warnings materialized in March 2026 when Iranian drone strikes damaged aluminum production facilities in Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates.

The attacks drove aluminum prices to a four-year high and disrupted shipments to the United States. The U.S. military relies on the United Arab Emirates for approximately 90% of its high-purity aluminum imports because the only large-scale domestic producer in the U.S. shut down in 2022 due to rising energy costs.

Despite 50% tariffs on foreign aluminum implemented by the administration of Donald Trump to rebuild domestic manufacturing, U.S. production has not recovered. The military is now struggling to replenish stockpiles as global competition for defense materials intensifies. The Aluminum Association is currently urging the Senate to advance legislation to strengthen the domestic supply chain.