DOD awards $12.7 million to increase titanium powder production for defense supply chains

The Department of Defense awarded $12.7 million via the Defense Production Act Investment (DPAI) Program to IperionX Technology, LLC to increase titanium powder production for defense supply chains.

"Robust and resilient defense supply chains are critical to the Warfighting capability of the United States," says Dr. Laura Taylor-Kale, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Industrial Base Policy. "Domestic titanium production is a top priority for the DoD's industrial base programs."

The award is to commission and scale up IperionX's facility in Virginia to a demonstration plant, increasing the company's titanium powder production to 125 metric tons (MT) annually. IperionX's goal is to produce 10,000 MT of titanium metal powder per year within five years. The company produces titanium alloys from either titanium minerals or 100% recycled material.

In 2023, the DPAI Program has made 21 awards totaling $674 million. DPAI is overseen by the ASD(IBP)'s Manufacturing Capability Expansion and Investment Program (MCEIP), in the Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Industrial Base Resilience.