Unlike tungsten carbide tools, which can be recycled, tungsten used in ammunition is permanently consumed upon detonation. With the accelerating pace of military operations, from Ukraine entering its fifth year to the escalation in Iran, it is clear that the losses are not limited to military stockpiles. In modern wars, the cost is measured not only by the number of missiles launched, but also by the rare earth metals they contain, which are consumed forever. Every missile fired over Iran not only explodes at its target but also consumes part of the United States' "tungsten" reserves — that ultra-hard metal that gives ammunition its ability to penetrate armor and underground fortifications.
