Odd Lots · Friday, September 4, 2026
The production of directed energy weapons is facing challenges due to reliance on critical minerals, many of which are predominantly supplied by China. Wayne Sanders highlighted that minerals like terbium, dysprosium, and ytterbium are essential for components in these advanced weapon systems, raising concerns about supply chain security and the need for domestic onshoring efforts.
“When you start looking at some of the deals that are being made by the Department of War– right now is a great example of that, right? The deal with MP materials to actually, you know, gain a piece of ground specifically inside the U.S. For domestic onshoring of these capabilities.”
“But, yeah, so critical minerals becomes very, very key. And so when you start looking at some of the deals that are being made by the Department of War– right now is a great example of that, right? The deal with MP materials to actually, you know, gain a piece of ground specifically inside the U.S. For domestic onshoring of these capabilities.”
“But you're absolutely right. There are quite a few of these critical minerals that China has a predominance in the world. They have, you know, sometimes 85, even 90 percent of the supply chain.”