Securing the rare earth supply chain is crucial for defence

[rebewranger]

March 23, 2022
Securing the rare earth supply chain is crucial for defence

Some of the most modern defence equipment relies on parts made of rare earth elements. The majority of the planet’s reserves, however, is found in China, making the US and other nations heavily dependent on imports. Norbert Neumann looks at the importance of rare earths and ways the US is trying to weaken reliance on Chinese imports.

By Norbert Neumann
 
What do an F-35, a radio battery and a man-portable air-defence system (MANPAD) have in common? They all need rare earth elements (REE) to build them.

REEs are a group of metals that are critical ingredients for the evolution of modern technology. Out of the 17 REEs, neodymium and samarium can be used to create resilient magnets that withstand high temperatures, making them perfect for mission-critical electronic and defence applications.

https://www.army-technology.com/features/securing-the-rare-earth-supply-chain-is-crucial-for-defence/

[rebewranger]

These metals may be important, but nearly as important to the US Military as learning CRT, preferred pronoun usage, and chasing off white, conservative patriots.