This article takes a closer look at a major federal investment meant to boost the United States’ domestic supply of vital semiconductor and optical materials. A Montana-based crystal grower is ramping up capacity for germanium and silicon—materials the defense sector can’t really do without. There’s also a sharp focus on the risks of relying too much on foreign supply chains.
Strengthening Domestic Supply Chains for Critical Optical Materials
The U.S. government just made a pretty bold move to shore up manufacturing at home. They awarded $18.5 million to Lattice Materials, which is based in Montana and specializes in custom-grown silicon and germanium crystals.
This funding comes from the U.S. Department of War (DoW) and aims to help the U.S. make more of the optical-grade materials that modern defense tech relies on. Lattice Materials is part of The Partner Companies (TPC) and has been honing its skills in high-purity crystals for over thirty years.
People are finally recognizing that advanced optics aren’t just parts—they’re actually key to national security.
Why Germanium and Silicon Matter for Defense
Germanium and silicon are absolutely essential for electro-optical and infrared (EO/IR) systems. These show up in all kinds of U.S. defense platforms.
Lattice provides these materials as carefully grown crystals that eventually become lenses, windows, and mirrors.
Lattice president Travis Wood says demand for American-made optical materials has never been higher. Aerospace and defense markets are especially hungry for them right now.
This new funding will help Lattice ramp up production to keep up.
Addressing Strategic Vulnerabilities in the Industrial Base
The DoW’s award is part of a broader push from the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Industrial Base Policy. They want to patch up weaknesses that have become pretty obvious as China tightens its export restrictions on germanium.
The U.S. Geological Survey lists germanium as one of 50 critical minerals. That should give you a sense of how important it is for both the economy and national security.
But here’s the thing: only a few groups in the U.S. really know how to grow optical-grade germanium crystals.
A Rare and Specialized Manufacturing Capability
Lattice has spent years mastering the Czochralski crystal growth process. This lets them control crystal diameter, orientation, and resistivity with real precision.
Those details matter when you need materials tailored for specific defense systems.
The funding will also help Lattice develop ways to make germanium metal from recycled materials. That’s good for sustainability and helps shield the supply chain from foreign shocks.
Voices from Industry and Government
Scott Bekemeyer, TPC’s co-chairman, called the investment a landmark for U.S. defense manufacturing. He pointed out that when it comes to reliability and security, you just can’t cut corners on trusted domestic suppliers of engineered germanium and silicon.
On the government side, Jeffrey Frankston, Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of War for Industrial Base Resilience, said optics are often a pacing item for big weapons platforms. By easing up the germanium bottleneck, the DoW expects to see real improvements in readiness and deployment speed.
A Strategic Investment with Long-Term Impact
Sure, this funding goes beyond just boosting capacity for now. It’s really a strategic move to deal with shifting geopolitical risks and to protect future defense programs.
By building up domestic production of critical optical materials, the U.S. aims to keep its technological edge. The world feels more contested than ever, and that’s not likely to change soon.
For folks in defense and aerospace, the Lattice Materials award stands out. It shows how smart investments in specialized manufacturing can pay off big for national security and future innovation.
Here is the source article for this story: Lattice Materials gains $18.5 M contract from U.S. Dept. of War