Titanium: Strengthening the global defence race

Titanium has been a key component of military operations for more than 70 years, rising to prominence during the Cold War.

The metal’s exceptional strength-to-weight ratio, corrosion resistance properties, and high-temperature stability make it indispensable across land, sea, and air defence platforms.

In defence aviation, titanium alloys offer lightweight, heat resistant, and durability qualities supporting aircraft frames and engine components. At sea, titanium’s saltwater corrosion resistance is ideal for ship hulls and submarines exposed to harsh saline environments. Back on land, titanium’s strength offers robust armour protection for vehicles and advanced personal equipment.

A renewed strategic focus

In 2025, titanium’s strategic value in defence manufacturing for military operations has re-entered the spotlight. Recent global events and ongoing geopolitical tension have highlighted vulnerabilities of global supply chains. The escalating trade war between the US and China has brought the issue into sharp focus.

With China producing approximately a third of the world’s titanium concentrates and providing more than 70% of US rare earth imports, the American defence sector faces a critical challenge in maintaining reliable access to this vital material.

In the meantime, the US has been actively seeking alternative sources for this metal, which is paramount to bolstering equipment and material performance across a wide range of military applications.

A recent example is the deal the US signed with Ukraine last month, granting access to the war-stricken nation’s abundance of titanium deposits in exchange for defence and reconstruction support.

The desire to secure alternative titanium sources is unsurprising. The US’s latest generation of fighter aircraft rely heavily on titanium in their construction, such as Lockheed Martin’s F-22 Raptor (40% structural Ti) and F-35 Lightning II (33% structural Ti), and Boeing’s F/A-18 Super Hornet (13% structural Ti).

Titanium in high demand

Globally, the race for resource sovereignty is accelerating as countries seek to fortify domestic production of critical minerals amid rising geopolitical tension in multiple countries.

The increase in demand for – and value placed on – titanium is evident through its classification as a critical mineral in the US, EU, and Australia.

In this context, the development of new and secure sources of titanium has become a geopolitical imperative.

As one of Brazil’s largest titanium deposits, the Tiros Project presents a major opportunity. With significant scale and strong geological fundamentals, Tiros offers an untapped resource of a metal considered a cornerstone of modern military capability.

The Tiros Project’s resource carries serious potential to link strategic partners in the business of advanced and additive manufacturing for military application directly to a high-volume, high-quality supply source.

Tiros hosts one of the largest anatase titanium deposits in South America and is estimated to contain 50% of Brazil’s known titanium reserves, much of it ultra-high grade with approximately 104 Mt at 23% TiO2 and 9100 TREO.

Further synergies with rare earths

Tiros’ strategic value is further enhanced by its rare earth content, especially the presence of niobium (Nd), praseodymium (Pr), dysprosium (Dy), and terbium (Tb), which are critical to the manufacture of permanent magnets used in defence systems, electric propulsion, and precision-guided weaponry.

With its scale, grade, and metallurgical viability, the Tiros Project has the potential to anchor new international supply partnerships, linking allied nations directly to a reliable, independent source of titanium and rare earths.

This is not just a resource opportunity – it is a geostrategic asset, critical to defence readiness and industrial sovereignty.

Read the article online at: https://www.globalminingreview.com/mining/04062025/titanium-strengthening-the-global-defence-race/