Aluminum　lithium　(Al-Li)　alloys　are　very　attractive　for　potential　aerospace　applications　due　to　their　lower　density,　higher　specific　strength　and　rigidity,　better　corrosion　and　fatigue　crack　growth　resistance　properties,　compared　to　conventional　aluminum　alloys.　Laser　beam　welding　(LBW),　being　an　advanced　joining　method,　has　already　been　approved　for　applications　involving　aluminum　alloys.　However,　there　are　still　a　number　of　problems　and　issues　to　be　answered　and　solved　in　LBW　of　Al-Li　alloys.　In　this　review,　the　properties　of　Al-Li　alloys　and　the　characteristics　of　LBW　are　introduced,　the　formation　and　prevention　of　the　main　weld　defects　such　as　porosity　and　hot　cracking　are　discussed,　and　then　the　weld　microstructure　and　the　joint　mechanical　properties　are　described　in　highlight.　At　the　end,　an　outlook　on　future　trends　is　presented.　(C)　2013　The　Society　of　Manufacturing　Engineers.　Published　by　Elsevier　Ltd.　All　rights　reserved.