In this episode of Weapons and Warfare, learn more about what it takes to make high-tech munitions available to the military today. The process, which begins with pulling precious resources from the Earth, is becoming further complicated as America’s access to the necessary resources is shrinking.
While the U.S. sends weapons to Ukraine and Israel, the military’s stockpile of munitions is starting to run low. Straight Arrow News’ Jack Aylmer explains how the government’s reserve of rare earth minerals needed to produce more is dwindling, compounding the problem.
There are 17 metallic elements essential for making a variety of modern-day weaponry. Those same resources are crucial for making vehicles including fighter jets, tanks and submarines, as well as the radar and sonar technology they use. Rare earth materials are even used in high-powered laser weapons.
“Rare earths play a key role as we know in our daily lives, but they’re particularly important for the defense for our defense efforts,” said former U.S. Army Brigadier General John Adams. “We have to secure control of the key natural resources that our 21st century military depends on.”
At the peak of the Cold War, the U.S. had a store of these minerals valued at $42 billion. Now, that supply is down to $888 million, and the U.S. is responsible for only about 14% of global rare earth mining. China controls 90% of the world’s rare earth processing and two-thirds of the global mining efforts.
“Since 2000, China has cornered the market on rare earth production, along with the high tech components that depend on rare earths,” Adams said. “Today they control more than 90% of global supply, and that should give all of us pause. Almost all new smartphones, computers, televisions, vehicles, and advanced U.S. defense systems depend on Chinese sourced rare earths components.”
Beijing has made moves to hold onto the monopoly. The People’s Republic of China banned the export of technology to make rare earth magnets, as well as the technology used to extract and separate the critical materials.
China’s superiority in this space has become a major concern for U.S. officials as the relationship between the two nations becomes increasingly strained.
“Our national security is threatened by this growing reliance on foreign sources for our military weapons and equipment,” Adams said. “Also for the raw materials, the parts, the finished products, everything we need for our defense industrial base is critical. Because if one part is not working right, the rest of it falls apart.”
Defense analysts believe the United States does not have the munitions needed for sustained conflict against Chinese military forces. Preparing for such a situation requires the very rare earth resources that the U.S. is running out of.
However, the American government has been reluctant to find a domestic solution, in part because extracting rare earth elements often involves significant land disruption and the use of hazardous chemicals, leading to pollution. Processing the minerals can also produce toxic waste, posing a threat to the environment and local communities.
Despite the risks, lawmakers have pushed forward legislation to boost American production. The Department of Defense has also reached an agreement to spend almost $100 million to acquire and install manufacturing equipment.
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