The Department of War has committed $450 million to expand domestic tungsten production for military systems.
The Office of the Assistant Secretary of War for Industrial Base Policy, working with the Economic Defense Unit, made the redeemable preferred equity investment through the Industrial Base Analysis and Sustainment program, the Department of War announced on Monday.
The move aims to build U.S. tungsten capacity, improve industrial resilience and support military readiness.
“This investment reflects the Department’s commitment to rebuilding critical industrial capacity in the United States,” said assistant secretary of War for industrial base policy Hon. Mike Cadenazzi. “Expanding domestic tungsten processing will strengthen supply chain resilience, support high-quality manufacturing jobs, and reinforce the production base behind essential defense systems.”
The Elmet Group is the sole U.S.-owned fully integrated producer of tungsten and molybdenum materials and components. It backs more than 100 Department of War programs, including the F-35, Patriot PAC-3, Trident D5, NGI, PrSM and Virginia- and Columbia-class submarines.
Tungsten serves as a key input for missiles, munitions, aerospace, propulsion, naval, undersea, electronics and industrial manufacturing uses because of its hardness, heat resistance, density and durability.
“The Economic Defense Unit was created to identify critical industrial chokepoints before adversaries can exploit them and before they become battlefield risk,” said George K. Kollitides II, director of the Economic Defense Unit. “Tungsten is essential to the systems that protect American warfighters and sustain deterrence, and this investment helps secure a domestic processing capability the United States cannot afford to leave exposed. By pairing targeted Department support with a disciplined preferred equity structure, we are strengthening the supply chain behind more than 100 defense programs while protecting taxpayers and delivering for the joint force.”
The funding will create the only independent ammonium paratungstate facility in North America and cut reliance on foreign supply chains where China controls an estimated 85 percent of tungsten and 40 percent of molybdenum output.
The investment is projected to add high-tech jobs in Coldwater, Michigan, and Lewiston, Maine, keep manufacturing roles in Euclid, Ohio, and raise demand for mining work in Nevada while supporting about 1,200 downstream positions in manufacturing, engineering and logistics.
The action fits the Department’s wider plan to secure critical materials and maintain production for military advantage.
Provided by Dallas Express
