The U.S. is seeking tungsten for missile production following the war with Iran
After the war, the United States stepped up its search for tungsten in Iran—a strategic metal essential for the production of missiles, bombs, and other weapons. According to media reports, the depletion of U.S. stockpiles forced the United States to seek new sources of this resource. At the same time, China controls about 80% of the world’s tungsten reserves, which creates additional risks for Washington.
Why Tungsten Is Important and Dependence on China
As the publication notes, Washington finds itself in a vulnerable position because China controls over 80% of global production of this strategic resource.
Tungsten is used in fighter jets, bunker-busting bombs, armor-piercing shells, and missile systems, making it indispensable for national defense.
At the same time, there have been no active commercial tungsten mines in the U.S. since 2015, and the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump has set a goal of reducing dependence on Chinese supplies.
Some are searching for the metal
One place where this metal can be found is in the mountains of eastern South Korea—at a mine owned by an American company that holds millions of tons of tungsten ore.
“There are very few large tungsten mines on the planet,” said Lewis Black, CEO of Almonty Industries. He is referring to the Sandong mine, which the company reopened in March after a hiatus of more than 30 years due to competition from China.
According to him, tungsten has long been a “military metal.” In recent decades, it has also become a “key metal” for the technology sector and is used in semiconductors, batteries, and smartphones.
“Demand for tungsten will only grow. Therefore, having a resilient tungsten supply chain will be extremely important over the next decade or two,” said Almonty’s Chief Operating Officer Steve Allen.
Trump’s Plan
The Trump administration has already announced the creation of a $12 billion reserve of critical minerals, as well as support for new mining projects in the U.S. and allied countries.
Among them is a large-scale $1.1 billion tungsten plant in Kazakhstan.
However, experts acknowledge that even with active investment from the West, it will take decades to reduce dependence on China.
"You won’t become fully self-sufficient in less than 20 years," the expert added.
What is known about tungsten
Tungsten is considered one of the strongest metals in the world. It melts at 3,410°C and boils at 5,500°C, which is comparable to the surface temperature of the Sun.
This metal is also very dense and hard.
It is precisely because of these properties that tungsten alloys are used in armor-piercing ammunition as projectile cores that help penetrate armor.
In addition, it is used in the production of parts for aviation, rocket, and other military equipment when a high mass is required in a compact volume.
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