A method of forming a high strength aluminum alloy. The method comprises subjecting an aluminum material containing at least one of magnesium, manganese, silicon, copper, and zinc at a concentration of at least 0.1% by weight to an equal channel angular extrusion (ECAE) process. The method produces a high strength aluminum alloy having an average grain size from about 0.2 μm to about 0.8 μm and a yield strength from about 300 MPa to about 650 MPa.