China is choking the Pentagon’s supply of critical minerals.
Missile magnets. Infrared sensors. Drone motors.
Lockheed and other defense giants say the U.S. war machine is running low on parts.
WSJ: the scramble to cut dependence has already begun.
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Missile magnets. Infrared sensors. Drone motors.
Lockheed and other defense giants say the U.S. war machine is running low on parts.
WSJ: the scramble to cut dependence has already begun.
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Beijing controls 90% of rare earths. It banned exports of germanium, gallium, and antimony — used for bullets, missiles, and night vision.
Now Western firms must send product photos and buyer lists to get Chinese supply cleared.
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Now Western firms must send product photos and buyer lists to get Chinese supply cleared.
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ePropelled, a U.S. drone motor maker, faced a 2-month delay after China blocked a magnet shipment.
Its Chinese supplier demanded: blueprints, buyer names, proof it wasn’t for defense.
They refused. The order was stopped.
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Its Chinese supplier demanded: blueprints, buyer names, proof it wasn’t for defense.
They refused. The order was stopped.
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Prices have exploded.
One firm was offered samarium for 60x the normal rate — needed for jet engines like F-35.
Other firms report paying 5x more for materials like neodymium.
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One firm was offered samarium for 60x the normal rate — needed for jet engines like F-35.
Other firms report paying 5x more for materials like neodymium.
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More than 80,000 Pentagon components use minerals now under Chinese control.
Nearly all of America’s defense mineral supply chains depend on at least one Chinese source, says Govini.
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Nearly all of America’s defense mineral supply chains depend on at least one Chinese source, says Govini.
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Leonardo CEO: We’re down to our safety stock of germanium.
That means U.S. missile sensors may face delivery delays.
Firms now scramble to find new sources in Japan, Taiwan, and U.S. startups.
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That means U.S. missile sensors may face delivery delays.
Firms now scramble to find new sources in Japan, Taiwan, and U.S. startups.
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China detained a shipment of antimony mined in Australia for 3 months in Ningbo.
U.S. Antimony Corp had to send it back to Australia. Seals were broken. Tampering suspected.
This was routine routing — until now.
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U.S. Antimony Corp had to send it back to Australia. Seals were broken. Tampering suspected.
This was routine routing — until now.
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The Pentagon is spending to catch up.
In July, it invested $400M in MP Materials, which runs the only major U.S. rare-earth mine.
Lockheed: this deal is vital for magnet supply in F-35s and cruise missiles.
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In July, it invested $400M in MP Materials, which runs the only major U.S. rare-earth mine.
Lockheed: this deal is vital for magnet supply in F-35s and cruise missiles.
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Smaller drone startups are most exposed.
They lack stockpiles. They lack leverage.
Their survival depends on how fast U.S. magnet makers like Vulcan Elements and USA Rare Earth can scale.
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They lack stockpiles. They lack leverage.
Their survival depends on how fast U.S. magnet makers like Vulcan Elements and USA Rare Earth can scale.
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The Pentagon launched the Critical Minerals Forum in 2024.
It now funds miners, offers grants (like $14M to a Canadian germanium firm), and is mapping alternatives. But supply won’t come fast.
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It now funds miners, offers grants (like $14M to a Canadian germanium firm), and is mapping alternatives. But supply won’t come fast.
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Phoenix Tailings CEO: Big defense firms now realize they won’t get magnets unless they secure sources directly. Panic is rising.
Without a full-scale Western supply chain, defense systems remain hostage to Beijing.
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Without a full-scale Western supply chain, defense systems remain hostage to Beijing.
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Source: wsj.com/world/asia/chi…
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