The defense programs behind the $450 million Elmet investment
Published September 17, 2026 / U.S. tungsten supply chain
The U.S. government has committed up to $450 million to The Elmet Group to expand domestic tungsten mining, processing and manufacturing capacity.
More than $165 million is intended for Elmet's facilities in Maine, Michigan and Ohio, while approximately $150 million will support the restart of the Springer tungsten complex in Nevada.
committed U.S. government investment
intended for three U.S. facilities
planned for the Springer complex
Where the capability already appears
Selected first-tier subcontract records, FY2021-FY2025
Mimir's FY2021-FY2025 data shows where some of this material and manufacturing capability already enters the defense industrial base. Records associated with Elmet and the former H.C. Starck operations include:
THAAD
Solid-tungsten forecone and nosetip assemblies and shroud ballast
GPS III and Next Gen OPIR
Housings, shields and structural panels
Trident II D5LE2
Niobium-alloy powders
Next Generation Interceptor
Chassis and panel work
AMRAAM
Precision-machined components under production contracts
More than additional tungsten supply
Mining
Additional domestic feedstock
Processing
Expanded U.S. material capacity
Components
Existing program-specific positions
Priority
Emergency access to funded capacity
Government priority during defined emergencies
The investment agreement also allows the government, under defined national-defense or emergency conditions, to designate up to 100% of the production capacity created by the funded projects—taking priority over affected commercial commitments.
The investment therefore does more than expand tungsten supply. It expands upstream capacity around a supplier whose existing components already support missile defense, military space and strategic-weapons programs.
The Elmet Group investment announcement, Elmet SEC filing, Elmet acquisition of H.C. Starck Solutions Americas, USAspending, FPDS and Mimir Data Platform and Modeling.
Mimir analysis of positive, adjusted first-tier subcontract records, FY2021-FY2025. Records include current Elmet CAGEs and legacy H.C. Starck CAGEs associated with the U.S. operations acquired by Elmet in 2023. Program positions are selected examples and do not represent the company's complete customer or product portfolio.