Archive · 15 Sep 2026
Pentagon Commits $450 Million to Cut US Tungsten Dependence
The United States wants to rely less on China for tungsten.
Tungsten is a very hard metal used in weapons, airplanes and submarines.
The Pentagon is giving a company called Elmet $450 million to make more tungsten materials in America.
Much of the world’s tungsten currently comes from China.
The money will help build a facility that makes an important tungsten-processing chemical.
Elmet plans to improve factories in Maine, Michigan and Ohio.
The project could create or support jobs in those states and in Nevada.
These job numbers are predictions, not jobs that have already been created.
The Pentagon will invest $450 million in The Elmet Group to expand US tungsten production and processing.
China supplies an estimated 85 percent of the world’s tungsten, which is used in missiles, aircraft, submarines and other systems.
The investment will establish North America’s only independent facility producing ammonium paratungstate, a key tungsten-processing compound.
Elmet expects to invest more than $165 million in facilities in Maine, Michigan and Ohio.
The project is expected to create or support jobs in several states, including about 1,200 downstream positions, though these are projected benefits.
- Who
- The Pentagon and The Elmet Group are involved, with officials Mike Cadenazzi and George K. Kollitides II discussing the investment.
- What
- The Pentagon announced a $450 million investment to expand domestic tungsten production, processing and manufacturing.
- When
- The investment was announced on September 14.
- Where
- The project involves operations in Coldwater, Michigan; Lewiston, Maine; Euclid, Ohio; and mining activity in Nevada.
- Why
- The investment aims to reduce US dependence on China-dominated tungsten supply chains and protect materials needed for defense production.
- Investment
- $450 million commitment to The Elmet Group
- Initial funding
- $200 million drawdown at closing
- China’s supply share
- An estimated 85 percent of global tungsten supply
- Key processing facility
- North America’s only independent ammonium paratungstate facility
- Elmet ownership stake
- Preferred equity and warrants representing up to 19.9 percent of common stock
- Planned company investment
- More than $165 million in Maine, Michigan and Ohio operations
- Projected downstream jobs
- About 1,200 manufacturing, engineering and logistics positions