Sila has secured a $1.4 billion loan from the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) to expand its silicon-carbon battery material production, addressing America's insatiable appetite for tech that isn't made in China.

The move comes as U.S. industry grapples with a supply chain dominated by Chinese companies, particularly in critical materials like graphite anodes. Silicon and silicon-carbon alloys promise to store 20% to 40% more energy than traditional graphite, making them ideal for defense and mobility applications.

With its factory in Moses Lake, Washington, Sila is one of the few companies not hampered by tariffs or geopolitical tensions. It has already lined up deals with Mercedes-Benz and Panasonic, but now eyes contracts with defence firms as conflicts continue to escalate both in Iran and Ukraine.

The Pentagon’s support doesn’t stop there; the DoD also announced loans for other critical materials. An Australian company will mine scandium for lightweight alloys, while a Minnesota-based firm will manufacture rare earth-free magnets. Finally, Strategic Bauxite received an equity investment to boost its aluminium mining efforts, all part of an ambitious plan to reduce reliance on foreign supplies.