IperionX Secures Prototype Order Supporting U.S. Army Ground Combat Systems

About IperionX Limited

IperionX Limited (ASX: IPX) is a critical materials and advanced manufacturing company focused on the domestic production of high-performance titanium metal and alloys in the United States. Listed on both the ASX and NASDAQ, the company operates at the intersection of advanced materials, recycling technology and national supply-chain security. IperionX’s strategy is underpinned by proprietary technologies that enable the conversion of titanium minerals and recycled scrap into high-quality titanium products at materially lower cost, energy use and carbon intensity than conventional production methods.

Titanium is designated as a strategic and critical material by the U.S. Government, with applications spanning defence, aerospace, space, consumer electronics and advanced manufacturing. Historically, the United States has relied heavily on foreign-sourced titanium sponge and upstream processing, exposing defence and industrial supply chains to geopolitical and logistical risks. Against this backdrop, IperionX’s emergence as the only domestic U.S. producer of commercial-scale primary titanium metal places the company in a uniquely strategic position as governments and prime contractors seek secure, localised supply.

Details of the Prototype Purchase Order

IperionX announced it has received a prototype purchase order valued at approximately US$300,000 from American Rheinmetall, a major defence manufacturer and U.S. affiliate of the global Rheinmetall Group. The order involves the production of 700 titanium track pin components for use in U.S. Army heavy ground combat systems.

The components will be delivered within an estimated eight to nine months from the order date, depending on final specifications. While modest in monetary value, the order represents a critical validation milestone, providing IperionX with an opportunity to demonstrate its titanium technologies in a demanding, real-world defence application. Management noted that successful execution of this initial scope of work could lead to a substantially larger commercial agreement in the future.

Technology Platform and Manufacturing Advantage

The titanium components will be manufactured in the United States using 100 per cent recycled titanium feedstock, processed through IperionX’s patented Hydrogen Assisted Metallothermic Reduction (HAMR) and Hydrogen Sintering and Phase Transformation (HSPT) technologies.

These technologies enable the production of high-performance titanium metal and alloys at significantly lower cost compared with conventional titanium production routes, which are typically energy-intensive and capital-heavy. By using recycled feedstock and hydrogen-based processing, IperionX also delivers materially lower carbon emissions, aligning with growing sustainability requirements across defence and industrial procurement.

Management highlighted that IperionX is currently the only domestic U.S. producer capable of manufacturing commercial-scale primary titanium metal, a capability that remains strategically important as defence programs increasingly prioritise supply-chain resilience and domestic content.

Operational Benefits for Defence Applications

Replacing steel components with titanium in heavy ground combat vehicles offers substantial operational benefits. IperionX indicated that titanium components can deliver weight reductions of approximately 40 to 45 per cent per component, translating to several hundred kilograms of total weight savings per vehicle, depending on configuration.

Lightweighting has become an increasingly critical design consideration for U.S. Army platforms, which have gained mass over time due to enhanced survivability and lethality upgrades, including advanced armour systems and emerging counter-unmanned aerial system protection. Reduced vehicle weight improves acceleration, agility and operational range, while also lowering ground pressure to enhance traction and mobility across soft or uneven terrain.

These performance gains are particularly relevant as military platforms are required to operate across diverse environments while accommodating additional onboard systems.

Strategic Alignment With U.S. Government Priorities

The purchase order directly supports U.S. Government objectives to reshore and secure critical materials supply chains, reduce reliance on foreign titanium sources and expand domestic manufacturing capacity. Titanium’s classification as a strategic and critical material reflects its importance to national security and advanced industries.

IperionX’s ability to supply titanium products manufactured entirely within the United States using recycled feedstock aligns closely with these policy priorities. The company’s CEO and Managing Director, Taso Arima, described the order as a demonstration of the practical application of IperionX’s recycled titanium technologies on key U.S. defence platforms, reinforcing the company’s role in supporting secure, low-carbon domestic manufacturing.

Positioning for Follow-On Commercial Opportunities

While the current purchase order is classified as a prototype engagement, it provides a pathway to deeper commercial relationships with defence primes and the U.S. Department of Defense. Prototype and pilot-scale orders are often used within defence procurement processes to de-risk new materials and manufacturing methods before larger-scale adoption.

By successfully delivering this order to specification, IperionX positions itself to compete for future programs involving broader deployment of titanium components across ground combat, aerospace and defence systems. The company’s vertically integrated model, spanning raw materials, processing and finished components, offers an additional competitive advantage in meeting defence procurement requirements.

Broader Asset Base and Long-Term Strategy

Beyond titanium manufacturing, IperionX controls the Titan Project, the largest JORC-compliant titanium, rare earth and zircon mineral sands resource in the United States. This asset provides long-term optionality for domestic raw material supply to support expanding titanium production, further strengthening the company’s strategic profile.

The combination of proprietary processing technologies, recycled feedstock capability and domestic mineral resources underpins IperionX’s ambition to become a cornerstone supplier to advanced U.S. industries requiring secure access to critical materials.

Outlook

Looking ahead, delivery of the prototype order represents a key execution milestone for IperionX in 2026. Successful completion would enhance the company’s credibility with defence customers and support progression toward larger, multi-year supply agreements.

As geopolitical tensions and supply-chain concerns continue to influence procurement decisions, demand for domestically produced, low-carbon titanium is expected to grow. IperionX appears well positioned to capture this demand through its differentiated technology platform and alignment with government priorities.