New (inter)metallic-ceramic composites for high-temperature structural and functional applications are prepared via high-energy ball milling. During compaction by pressureless sintering, dense Al2O3/Ti-based alloy composites are formed that consist of inter-connected networks of the ceramic and the (inter)metallic phases, Ti-AI-V/Al2O3 and Ti-AI-Nb/Al2O3 composites show enhanced damage tolerance over monolithic Al2O3 i.e., fracture toughnesses up to 5.6 MPa .m(0.5) and bending strengths up to 527 MPa. The resistance against abrasive wear is almost doubled with respect to monolithic Al2O3 ceramic. Electrical resistivity scales with the ceramic volume fraction and ranges between 0.3 m Omega . cm and 55.1 m Omega . cm, with only a weak temperature dependence less than or equal to 700 degreesC.