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2 clusters · 5 sources · 22 days · First seen · Last updated

US Pentagon funding rare‑earth supply chain

Overview

In July 2026 the U.S. Department of Defense allocated $25 million to the rare‑earth startup ReElement, marking an early step toward building a domestic source of critical minerals. A few weeks later, in August 2026, the Pentagon approved a $500 million loan for Phoenix Tailings, a Massachusetts‑based firm, to construct a processing facility in Exeter, New Hampshire. The plant will extract neodymium, praseodymium, terbium, dysprosium, samarium and yttrium from mine tailings and recycled magnets, materials essential for weapons such as Tomahawk cruise missiles, THAAD interceptors and F‑35 fighter jets. These investments reflect a broader U.S. strategy to reduce reliance on China for rare‑earth processing and secure a domestic supply chain for defense applications.

Entities

China · United States Department of Defense · Anthony Balladon · Phoenix Tailings

Timeline

  1. 24 days ago

    [BUSINESS] 5 sources
    Phoenix Tailings receives $500 M Pentagon loan to boost US rare‑earth weapons supply

    Phoenix Tailings will use a $500 M Pentagon loan to build a 14‑18‑month facility in Exeter, NH, extracting rare‑earth metals from waste to supply U.S. weapons and cut reliance on China.

  2. about 2 months ago

    [POLITICS] 5 sources
    US Pentagon invests $25 million in rare‑earth startup ReElement

    The Pentagon is putting $25 million into Indiana‑based ReElement to refine rare‑earths for defense gear, a step in the U.S. push to cut China dependence on critical minerals.

Sources

koreatimes.co.kr · mymotherlode.com · semissourian.com · troyrecord.com · winnipegfreepress.com