“REEs are unevenly distributed across Earth, with Chinese mines producing around 70 percent of REEs and accounting for about 90 percent of global heavy rare earth processing, creating a monopoly. REEs are vital for the clean energy transition, needed in solar panels, batteries, and wind turbine motors, as well as for medical and defense technologies – one F-35 fighter jet contains around 400 kilograms (900 pounds) of REEs, for example.” Science Alerts. How much of the 900 pounds of REE’s in an F-35 comes from China? Does someone want to explain why trade with China has been good for America’s defense? While you are at it why was buying gas from Russia good for the EU’s defense?
“Core Uses in the F-35; Neodymium and praseodymium form ultra-strong permanent magnets for flight-control actuators, electric motors, and power generation, Samarium bonded with cobalt creates heat-resistant magnets for the integrated power package where normal magnets would fail, Dysprosium and terbium are mixed into alloys to boost heat tolerance, Yttrium is used in ceramic thermal barrier coatings for the F-35 engine turbine blades and contributes to radar-absorbent materials, Neodymium supports precision laser-targeting systems, while praseodymium and other REEs drive advanced electronic warfare and radar arrays and Scandium strengthens specialized aluminum alloys to keep the frame lightweight and durable under heavy combat stress.” Google AI.
And that is all I’m going to say about that!
Drain the Cesspool 