These funds will facilitate vertical integration and increase titanium production capacity at IperionX’s Titanium Manufacturing Campus in Virginia. Credit: tunasalmon/Shutterstock.

IperionX has secured a contract for up to $47.1m in funding from the US Department of Defense (DOD) to enhance the US titanium supply chain.

This initiative aims to bolster the US Defense industrial base by developing a resilient, low-cost and fully integrated mineral-to-metal titanium supply chain.

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The focus is on strengthening US titanium production capabilities to support national security and economic resilience.

The strategic partnership between IperionX and the DOD represents a combined investment of $70.7m for a two-phase development programme over two years.

In the initial phase, the DOD has allocated $5m through the Industrial Base Analysis and Sustainment (IBAS) programme, while IperionX will contribute $1m.

This funding will expedite the Titan Critical Minerals Project in Tennessee, advancing it to ‘shovel-ready’ status.

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The remaining $42.1m from the contract is expected to be allocated by the DOD throughout the agreement.

These funds will facilitate vertical integration and increase titanium production capacity at IperionX’s Titanium Manufacturing Campus in Virginia.

IperionX CEO Anastasios (Taso) Arima said: “This award is a pivotal moment in IperionX’s mission to reshore the US titanium industry. For too long, American industry has been reliant on foreign-controlled supply chains for this critical high-strength metal.

“IperionX’s proprietary technologies, combined with the Titan Project, offer a pathway for a resilient end-to-end US titanium supply chain. We are proud to be selected by the DOD as a key partner in strengthening US industrial and defence capabilities.”

IperionX’s proprietary technologies, Hydrogen-Assisted Metallothermic Reduction and Hydrogen Sintering and Phase Transformation, are key to producing low-cost, high-performance titanium.

In 2023, the DOD conducted market research to explore alternatives to the import-dominated supply chain for high-purity titanium sponge and alloy metals.

The DOD emphasised the need for domestically mined, processed and refined titanium, highlighting benefits in material quality, cost and energy efficiency over current methods like the Kroll or Hunter processes.

The DOD issued a competitive solicitation in 2024 to improve titanium supply chain resiliency.

IperionX’s proposal, selected for award, showcased a unique end-to-end solution to reshore the US titanium supply chain.

This funding from the DOD’s IBAS programme aligns with the Trump administration’s priority to secure domestic critical minerals and metals supply chains.

IperionX’s mineral-to-metal titanium supply chain aims to support advanced US industries by delivering a low-cost, scalable and resilient solution.