The U.S. military is facing a severe shortage of tungsten, a crucial and irreplaceable strategic mineral in weapons production. According to NBC News, export restrictions from China, coupled with high arms consumption rates in the Middle East, are putting the U.S. military -industrial complex in a difficult position to maintain its combat capabilities.
Challenges related to the supply of strategic raw materials.
The Pentagon is currently working to secure the tungsten needed to maintain production lines for Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) systems, Patriot air defense systems, and Tomahawk cruise missiles. These are key weapons systems that have been consumed in large quantities during recent conflicts in the Middle East.
Ruslan Dimukhamedov, President of the Association of Producers and Consumers of Precious and Rare Earth Metals, stated that tungsten is a key component in the manufacture of armor-piercing ammunition and high-temperature resistant components. In the civilian sector, this metal is also widely used in cemented carbide tools, alloy steels, and electronic components.
Notably, China currently controls approximately 80% of global tungsten production. Military experts emphasize that no metal can completely replace tungsten in defense applications, making it a decisive "metal of war."
Consequences of export control measures
According to expert Igor Yushkov at the Financial University of the Russian Federation , the US's dependence on crucial minerals from China has created a major gap in the defense supply chain. In response to tariffs imposed by Washington, Beijing has implemented strict tungsten export controls.
According to Yushkov, if geopolitical tensions continue to escalate, China could use export restrictions as a means of exerting direct economic and military pressure on the US. An alternative solution, such as increasing production in other regions or seeking new sources of supply, is considered feasible but would require significant time and investment.
The depletion of interceptor weapons stockpiles.
Besides material constraints, reports from the Washington Post and the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) indicate that the US missile stockpile is at an alarming level. During six weeks of conflict in the Middle East, the US military has used more than 300 long-range anti-aircraft missiles to defend Israel against attacks from Iran.
Below is a table showing the estimated consumption rates of major weapons in the US arsenal, according to CSIS:
| Type of weapon | Estimated consumption rate |
|---|---|
| THAAD system | Over 50% |
| Patriot system | Nearly 50% |
| PrSM ballistic missile (new generation) | Approximately 45% |
| SM-3 anti-aircraft missile | Over 30% |
| Tomahawk cruise missile | Approximately 27% |
| JASSM stealth missile | 20% |
| SM-6 anti-aircraft missile | At least 10% |
For the THAAD system alone, the Pentagon has used more than 200 interceptor missiles, equivalent to half of its current stockpile. US naval task forces in the eastern Mediterranean have also fired more than 100 SM-3 and SM-6 anti-aircraft missiles. Unnamed US officials acknowledge that the rapid depletion of these expensive and advanced missiles poses a significant challenge to the country's long-term global defense capabilities.
Source: https://baolamdong.vn/my-doi-mat-thach-thuc-san-xuat-ten-lua-do-phu-thuoc-nguon-vonfram-tu-trung-quoc-445205.html
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