Raytheon, now part of RTX Corporation, faces significant...

Raytheon, now part of RTX Corporation, faces significant challenges in sourcing magnets for its military defence production due to complex supply chain vulnerabilities and evolving regulatory requirements. The company's approach to magnet procurement has been fundamentally shaped by national security concerns and China's dominance in rare earth materials processing.

Raytheon, as a systems integrator, assembles defence products like surface-to-air missiles using magnets sourced both from internal manufacturing and external suppliers. However, the rare earth permanent magnets (especially neodymium-iron-boron and samarium-cobalt types) used in these systems are predominantly derived from rare earth materials that have historically been processed in China. This is because China controls about 95% of the world’s rare earth processing capacity, making it the primary source of rare earth alloys and magnets embedded in many defence components, including those Raytheon uses

https://rareearthexchanges.com/news/rare-earths-and-the-u-s-defense-supply-chain-from-bidens-ban-to-trumps-trade-gambit/









This comprehensive table format organizes Raytheon's complex magnet sourcing strategy across multiple dimensions, highlighting the transition from Chinese dependency toward domestic and allied supply chains while maintaining critical defence capabilities.

Ionic's Belfast facility will produce high-purity rare earth oxides including neodymium oxide (Nd₂O₃), praseodymium oxide (Pr₆O₁₁), dysprosium oxide (Dy₂O₃), and terbium oxide (Tb₄O₇). These materials are essential for defence applications, particularly in permanent magnet manufacturing for military systems.

By 2027, Ionic's Belfast facility would be among the first Western commercial-scale rare earth oxide recycling operations, positioning the company as a "first mover" in sovereign supply chain development. The facility is already the first producer of recycled separated magnet rare earth oxides in the Western world through its demonstration plant.

Given the DoD's $439 million investment in domestic rare earth supply chains and the critical 2027 deadline, Ionic's Belfast facility represents a viable option for Department of Defence contracting. The company's proven technology, government backing, and alignment with 2027 operational targets create favourable conditions for potential DoD engagement.

The facility's 400 tonnes annual production capacity, while significant for recycling operations, would represent a portion of total DoD rare earth oxide requirements. This suggests potential for both direct supply contracts and strategic partnership arrangements supporting broader supply chain resilience objectives.

The combination of Ionic's operational timeline, technological capabilities, regulatory compliance, and government support positions the company as a credible candidate for DoD rare earth oxide supply contracts beginning in 2027, contributing to the broader objective of establishing secure, non-Chinese rare earth supply chains for U.S. defence applications.


Remember, Brett has been summoned back to the US again!