A method of manufacturing a refractory metal composite article, wherein a refractory metal is silicon, hafnium, tantalum, boron, tungsten, titanium, niobium, zirconium, molybdenum, vanadium or a combination thereof, the method comprising: (a) depositing a refractory metal within a porous matrix of a first precursor material, wherein the porous matrix comprises a fibrous structure, and wherein a quantity of the refractory metal is in stoichiometric excess of a quantity of the precursor material; (b) reacting a portion of the refractory metal with the first precursor material to convert the porous matrix of the first precursor material into a porous matrix of refractory metal ceramic with a remainder of the refractory metal, to form a refractory metal ceramic section comprising interlaced filaments, and including a refractory metal carbide, a refractory metal silicide, or a refractory metal boride; (c) depositing a second precursor material adjacent the remainder of the refractory metal within the porous matrix of the refractory metal ceramic; (d) reacting the second precursor material with the remainder of the refractory metal to produce a refractory metal ceramic coating on the porous matrix of the refractory metal ceramic section, the coating including a refractory metal carbide, a refractory metal silicide, or a refractory metal boride, the coating and the porous matrix of the refractory metal ceramic forming a composite porous matrix; and (e) depositing a pre-ceramic polymer into the pores and converting the pre-ceramic polymer to a ceramic material solid filler, whereby the pores within the composite porous matrix are partially filled with the solid filler, the solid filler comprising silicon nitride, silicon carbonitride, silicon oxycarbide, silicon oxynitride, silicon-aluminium-oxygen-nitrogen or alumino-silicate, such that a residual porosity remains. (a) depositing a refractory metal within a porous matrix of a first precursor material, wherein the porous matrix comprises a fibrous structure, and wherein a quantity of the refractory metal is in stoichiometric excess of a quantity of the precursor material; (b) reacting a portion of the refractory metal with the first precursor material to convert the porous matrix of the first precursor material into a porous matrix of refractory metal ceramic with a remainder of the refractory metal, to form a refractory metal ceramic section comprising interlaced filaments, and including a refractory metal carbide, a refractory metal silicide, or a refractory metal boride; (c) depositing a second precursor material adjacent the remainder of the refractory metal within the porous matrix of the refractory metal ceramic; (d) reacting the second precursor material with the remainder of the refractory metal to produce a refractory metal ceramic coating on the porous matrix of the refractory metal ceramic section, the coating including a refractory metal carbide, a refractory metal silicide, or a refractory metal boride, the coating and the porous matrix of the refractory metal ceramic forming a composite porous matrix; and (e) depositing a pre-ceramic polymer into the pores and converting the pre-ceramic polymer to a ceramic material solid filler, whereby the pores within the composite porous matrix are partially filled with the solid filler, the solid filler comprising silicon nitride, silicon carbonitride, silicon oxycarbide, silicon oxynitride, silicon-aluminium-oxygen-nitrogen or alumino-silicate, such that a residual porosity remains.