Nb-modified ultrafine Ti–Si eutectic alloy was made by cold crucible levitation melting, tested in compression at room temperature, and characterized by electron microscopy. Compression tests of (Ti_86.5Si_13.5)₉₇Nb₃ specimens measured an ultimate compressive strength of 1180 MPa and a compressive plastic strain of 12%, both of which are higher than in eutectic Ti_86.5Si_13.5 alloy. Electron microscopy showed that the Ti–Si–Nb alloy had a bimodal microstructure with micrometer-scale primary α-Ti dendrites distributed in an ultrafine eutectic (α-Ti + Ti₅Si₃) matrix. The enhanced ductility is attributed to the morphology of the phase constituents and to the larger lattice mismatches between α-Ti and Ti₅Si₃ phases caused by the Nb addition. The crystallographic orientation relationship of Ti₅Si₃ with α-Ti is .