David Kerber wrote:

The main military applications for Ti are where weight is vital and they
can put up with the cost, such as certain pieces of aircraft structures.
Most of an aircraft structure, though, is made of aluminum. The
Russians use it for some submarine pressure hulls, because the weight
savings means they can put more stuff in a physically smaller hull.
They also have about 90% of the world's Ti reserves, so it's a lot
cheaper for them than for the rest of the world.



Dumbass -

Actually, it's not "a lot" cheaper for them. It's perhaps a tiny bit
cheaper.

Titanium is a very abundant element, the 4th most abundant on earth.
Since the Russians have so much of it, they may have a slight refining
advantage, but not much of one since there's so much of it worldwide.

Most of the cost of refining titanium ore is in the form of energy.
Energy is a commodity. The Soviet Communists were able to spend
outrageous amounts of energy developing titanium hulled subs, but the
Russians are in a free market economy now and they can't afford it.

thanks,

K. Gringioni.