Vital for Defence

Rare earth permanent magnets (REPM) are crucial for modern defence technologies, enabling the development of advanced systems like night vision devices, precision weapons, and communication equipment, and are essential for military capabilities.

Their increasing use in defence capabilities underscores the strategic nature of these minerals and adds impetus to the drive from Western and aligned governments to create a resilient supply chain that does not rely on a single point of failure (China) for critical components.

REPM using all four magnet rare earths (Nd, Pr, Dy and Tb) create super strong magnets that retain coercivity at high temperatures and operate under demanding conditions, making them essential for combat systems.

REPM are used across a variety of next generation defence technologies, including:

  • F-35 Lightning II aircraft
  • Virginia and Columbia class submarines
  • Unmanned aerial vehicles
  • Tomahawk missiles
  • Radar systems
  • Guidance and control systems

REE are also used in non-magnetic applications such as:

  • Vehicle-mounted and portable laser range finders
  • Target designators
  • Fiber optic communications systems
  • Sonic transducers for submarines

Recognising the excessive supply chain vulnerability for magnet REE, especially the heavy rare earths Dy and Tb, the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) has instigated a “Mine-to-magnet” initiative aimed at establishing a fully domestic supply chain.

This will include the separation and refinement of REE mined in the U.S., as well as developing the downstream processes needed to convert those refined materials into metals, alloys and ultimately magnets.

The urgency has been recognised by the new Trump administration in the U.S., with the Executive Order ‘Unleashing American Energy’ released in January 2025 explicitly making reference to the need for America to establish its position as “the leading producer and processor of non-fuel minerals, including rare earth minerals”.

Western and aligned governments are expected to continue to engage and collaborate in order to break China’s dominance on the sector and put in place the foundations to bring onstream both new sources of supply, as well as mid-stream refining and magnet manufacturing capabilities.