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China is quietly squeezing the lifeline of US military technology and advanced weapon production through export curbs on magnets
Chinas export curbs on critical minerals like rare earths, gallium, and antimony are delaying US defence production and forcing firms to find workarounds. With China controlling most of the worlds refining capacity, the Pentagon is facing steep costs, shipment delays, and tightening supplies. New mining investments and supply deals are underway, but they wont fill the gap fast enough. Until they do, Washingtons defence readiness is exposed—and Beijing knows it.
Rare earth elements like neodymium and samarium are found in high-performance magnets, which power everything from missile guidance systems to drone propulsion and F-35 flight controls.Some, like dysprosium and terbium, are essential for heat-resistant alloys in jet engines. “In order to sustain timely product deliveries, material flow must improve in the second half,” said Lenardo DRS's CEO Bill Lynn during a conference call with WSJ. “Developing mine sites and sufficient infrastructure in the war-torn nation will take time, potentially decades,” said Aidan Knight, an associate analyst from GlobalData, as per a report by US Critical Minerals website.
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