China has cut off oxygen to the F-35: each fighter contains 417 kg of rare earth metals

Chinese ban for export rare earth metals jeopardized the production of American fighter jets F-35. Each such aircraft contains 417 kilograms these elements – without them its assembly is simply impossible.

According to Western media reports, citing closed meetings in Pentagon And US Treasury DepartmentWashington found itself critically dependent on supplies from China. Beijing’s ban, which will come into force in the coming months, could paralyze the production of not only combat aircraft, but also other types of high-tech aircraft.

The irony isthat this vulnerability was warned about ten years ago. In 2015, the Minister of Defense Ashton Carter called for a review of procurement strategy, arguing that China is “using its dependence on rare earths as a weapon.” Then he was not heard, but now the words sound prophetic.

Numbers that make the sky grow cold

At closed meetings of the Pentagon, alarming data was announced: every F-35 includes 417 kg rare earth elementsnecessary to create permanent magnets in engines, control systems and radars. Without these metals, it is impossible to produce new aircraft, as well as maintain existing ones.

For ten years, the United States has not built a full-cycle facility for processing rare earth elements. The country continued to rely on imports while China methodically developed his industry, occupying about 90% of the world market. Now Beijing is turning off the tap, using the situation as strategic leverage.

“Rare Earth Panic Coalition”

In a hurry, the US administration created an international rare earth coalitionhowever, according to estimates Bloombergit’s more like “showing weakness rather than determination.” Possible partners – countries in Europe and Asia – themselves depend on Chinese semi-finished products and have neither production volumes nor processing technologies.

Creating an alternative supply chain will take years and require huge investments that do not yet exist. Minister of Finance Scott Bessent admitted that the dependence is “more than critical,” but did not offer specific solutions.

Calculated vulnerability

This crisis is not a random failure, but a result strategic miscalculation. China has been investing in environmentally complex rare earth production for decades, gaining a monopoly, while the West has preferred to buy ready-made, focusing on assembly.

Now Beijing holds all the cards. As noted Bloomberg“This gives China the opportunity to keep US allies from participating in pressure on it.” Countries closely linked to the Chinese economy are forced to choose between geopolitical loyalty And economic survival.

Embargo on rare earth metals turned into geopolitical weapon new type. It threatens the production of key US weapons and undermines Western alliances, reminding that in the 21st century, power is determined not by the number of aircraft carriers, but by control over the raw materials from which these aircraft carriers can even be built.

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