DLA awards Elmet $36 million for stockpile alloys

Also this week: Epic Aircraft has received FAA certification of Garmin Autoland on the E1000 AX. Boeing has received the first full-rate production award for the MH-139A Grey Wolf, covering four helicopters.

Elmet Technologies has been awarded a contract valued at approximately $36 million by the Defense Logistics Agency to supply molybdenum and tungsten alloys and precision wire to the US National Defense Stockpile. The materials are used in jet engine components.

Elmet will supply DLA Strategic Materials with titanium-zirconium-molybdenum alloy billets, bar stock and ingots, together with specialised molybdenum and tungsten wire. Elmet states the award is separate from the $2 billion DLA contract it announced on 14 September.

Solcoa Industries is addressing a different metal with private money and cites a dated defence sourcing rule. Its 24 September financing of $75 million comprises $45 million in equity led by Bain Capital Ventures and $30 million in debt and equipment financing anchored by J.P. Morgan. The funds are for construction and commissioning of Solcoa One, which the company describes as its first commercial rare earth metalmaking plant, and for expanded reactor manufacturing in Alameda. DFARS 252.225-7052 already bars US defence contractors from buying samarium-cobalt and neodymium-iron-boron magnets produced in China, Russia, Iran or North Korea. From 1 January 2027 it extends to the origin of the rare earths inside such magnets. Solcoa says converting refined oxides into metal is a major bottleneck and puts China's share of global metallisation capacity at 95%. The financing came just over three months before that extension takes effect.

Also this week: Epic Aircraft has received FAA certification of Garmin Autoland on the E1000 AX. Boeing has received the first full-rate production award for the MH-139A Grey Wolf, covering four helicopters. Bharat Forge has secured a long-term contract to supply Pratt & Whitney Canada with aero-engine components made in India. Ontic has acquired the Wichita-based Aero-Mach Companies.