American titanium manufacturer IperionX will receive $12.5 million from the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) to help strengthen the country’s defense industrial base.
This funding has been obligated under IperionX’s $47.1 million award from the DoD, announced in February 2025. The agreement aims to build a resilient, low-cost titanium supply chain in the United States, covering every stage from mineral extraction to metal production.
IperionX will use the new funding to purchase equipment that expands its Virginia Titanium Manufacturing Campus to over 1,000 metric tons of annual capacity. Key upgrades will include titanium deoxygenation, sintering and powder metallurgy consolidation systems, near-net-shape component manufacturing, and infrastructure improvements.
Total funding obligations received under the February award now stand at $17.5 million. The DoD is expected to obligate the remaining $29.6 million over the contract term to further expand titanium production capacity at the Virginia Titanium Manufacturing Campus.
“This new U.S. Government obligation allows IperionX to move immediately to secure long-lead capital equipment and lock in manufacturing slots with key suppliers,” commented IperionX CEO Anastasios Arima. “It accelerates our imminent Virginia expansion beyond 1,000 tpa of high-performance titanium manufactured products, and advances a fully integrated, low-cost and traceable American titanium supply chain for defense and commercial customers.”
IperionX strengthens domestic titanium supply chain
The U.S. faces a strategic need to boost domestic production of titanium materials and components. Titanium is essential in defense manufacturing because of its strength, heat tolerance, and corrosion resistance. It is widely used in aerospace, naval defense, armored vehicles, and other advanced technologies.
Currently, most titanium comes from China, Japan, and Russia, creating supply risks for the United States. To reduce this dependence, the DoD is advancing the Industrial Base Analysis and Sustainment (IBAS) program, which works to strengthen and expand America’s defense manufacturing base of critical materials.
IperionX plays a central role in this effort. Its hydrogen-assisted Metallothermic Reduction (HAMR) and Hydrogen Sintering and Phase Transformation (HSPT) technologies enable cost-effective, high-performance titanium production in the United States. Through IBAS, the North Carolina-based company is expanding material production capacity at its Virginia Titanium Manufacturing Campus.
The Pentagon’s new $12.5 million award builds on the $5 million previously obligated to advance IperionX’s Titan Critical Minerals Project in Tennessee to shovel-ready status. A definitive feasibility study is underway and scheduled for completion in the first half of 2026.
Arima added, “We are executing a multi-phase modular scale-up in titanium production and manufacturing capacity — and this commitment from the DoD is a strong endorsement of our technology, our team, and our mission to reshore a resilient titanium production supply chain in the United States.”
In other news, IperionX was recently granted a separate DoD contract, potentially worth up to $99 million. This five-year agreement, issued under the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program, allows federal agencies to place orders for American-made titanium parts using the company’s patented manufacturing processes.
Announced in June 2025, the contract is part of the SBIR program’s third phase, which supports companies moving from research to full-scale production. IperionX will receive task orders for specific projects, starting with titanium fasteners for defense applications.
Securing metal powders for AM
Demand for critical materials is increasing as the U.S. and Europe seek to strengthen their manufacturing capabilities and supply chains.
Earlier this year, American metal 3D printer maker Velo3D signed a five-year exclusive supply agreement with Australian metal AM specialist Amaero. Through the deal, valued at an estimated $22 million, Amaero became Velo3D’s preferred supplier of titanium powders to support its contract manufacturing services.
The company will provide titanium alloy, Niobium C103, and other refractory powders, including molybdenum, tantalum, tungsten, and zirconium. In turn, Velo3D will develop exclusive 3D print parameters for these materials across its Sapphire 3D printers.
Elsewhere, Warsaw-based AMAZEMET has launched a new on-demand atomization service. Designed for researchers working with experimental powders, the service enabled small-batch production starting at just 50 grams of material. It seeks to address common material bottlenecks that stunt progress in materials research and alloy development.
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Featured image shows engineers at one of IperionX’s facilities. Photo via IperionX.
