OICC Press International Nano Letters 2228-5326 11 4 (December 2021) 2021 03 09 A brief review of carbon nanotube reinforced metal matrix composites for aerospace and defense applications 10.1007/s40089-021-00328-y EN Venkataramanan Srinivasan School of Mechanical Engineering, Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore, Tamilnadu, 632014, IN Selvaraj Kunjiappan Department of Biotechnology, Kalasalingam Academy of Research and Education, Krishnankoil, Tamilnadu, 626128, IN Ponnusamy Palanisamy School of Mechanical Engineering, Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore, Tamilnadu, 632014, IN Journal Article 2021 03 09 Abstract The aerospace and defense industry's intense desire is to revamp the performance characteristics of space shuttle vehicles, military tanker vehicles by continuously driving the production of advanced materials with remarkable properties. Thus, the need for high strength and lower weight metals are increasing rapidly in these industries. In this view, many research works on composites have been proved, especially metal matrix composites (MMCs). Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are rolled-up graphene sheets with superior mechanical, thermal, and electrical properties attracted by many researchers in fabrication with MMCs. Metal matrix composites are developed in making space shuttle components and jet engine parts due to their higher specific strength and wear resistance. Numerous experimental investigations were performed on CNT reinforced MMCs in the making of structural components in aerospace and military vehicles, but the challenge still exists in many factors such as the production of complex structural components with optimistic performance, poor scattering of CNT in MMCs due to the formation of agglomeration and to retain nanoscale properties in large fraction. The aim of this review is to discuss about the development of MMCs in aerospace and military applications, the importance of CNTs in the field of the aviation industry, challenges in aerospace and defense sectors, and highlighting the importance of various processing techniques adopted in the development of CNT reinforced MMCs.