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Today’s defense systems rely on highly specialised materials with limited substitutes and fragile supply chains. Growing geopolitical pressure is turning access to these inputs into a defining issue for defense planning and industrial resilience.
In the latest short episode of the Fast Forward podcast, Andrea Hotter sits down with Jon Stibbs, Europe managing editor for technology and energy metals of Fastmarkets, about a group of materials that rarely attract public attention but are increasingly central to defense planning.
Cobalt, gallium, germanium and antimony sit “at the intersection of defense technology, global supply chains, and geopolitical competition,” Stibbs said, making them strategically significant well beyond their relatively small market size.
Without reliable access to these metals, much of a military’s remote sensing, energy storage and advanced communications would be left vulnerable. As global tensions rise and supply chains tighten, it’s more important than ever for governments and defense contractors to secure these elements and adapt their strategies.
“The four of them… are considered critical to defence systems because they enable performance that’s hard to achieve with more commonplace materials, especially under high heat, high power, or in contested electromagnetic environments.”
The conversation unpacks why these materials matter, the risks around their supply and how the West is responding. Here are the key takeaways from the episode.
Cobalt, gallium, germanium and antimony are essential components integrated throughout defense technologies. Their unique properties provide the performance, durability and resilience required in high-stakes environments, impacting everything from fighter jets and missiles to communication arrays and surveillance platforms.
Cobalt forms the heart of superalloys used in military jet engines, allowing turbine blades and combustor components to endure extreme heat and stress. Its strength doesn’t stop there: cobalt is essential for high-strength permanent magnets, which are found in advanced motors, guidance systems and critical sensors.
It’s also a key ingredient in the lithium-ion batteries that power communications devices and the integrated equipment that connects and protects soldiers on the ground. “Without cobalt, a lot of advanced defense capability simply doesn’t materialise,” – Stibbs.
Gallium might be unfamiliar, but its uses are vital. Gallium nitride and gallium arsenide chips control electronically scanned array radars, enabling rapid, precise tracking in cluttered environments.
It also plays a pivotal role in electronic warfare jammers, secure satellite terminals and other modules that ensure robust and efficient communication, essential for information dominance and real-time decision-making.
Germanium is a core component in the lenses and windows of infrared cameras and night vision systems, deployed on everything from ground vehicles to aircraft targeting pods. Germanium’s properties allow for clear, high-speed imaging, even in low-light or hostile conditions, giving military operations their critical edge in intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance.
While it doesn’t attract headlines, antimony is indispensable for defense. It strengthens lead alloys in military ammunition, making munitions more reliable in demanding scenarios.
Antimony’s flame-retardant qualities improve safety in cable jackets and plastics for vehicles, ships and field equipment. Its durability is also key in rugged lead-acid batteries, guaranteeing robust backup power where it matters most.
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Despite the clear need for these materials, securing supply is more difficult than ever. Mining and refining of cobalt, gallium, germanium and antimony are concentrated in just a handful of countries, with China dominating processing, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) providing about 70% of the world’s mined cobalt.
“These materials are strategically awkward for Western defense bodies because their mining, and especially processing, are highly concentrated,” Stibbs said.
For gallium and germanium, China controls the bulk of refining capacity, as they are typically extracted as by-products of large-scale aluminium and zinc processing. Antimony also relies on Chinese processing.
“Refining is the real chokepoint. That’s where Western exposure becomes much harder to manage.”
With so much of the West’s supply filtered through these bottlenecks, any shift in policy or geopolitics can send shockwaves across the defense sector.
Export restrictions have become a strategic tool. In 2023, China implemented licensing requirements and then banned exports of gallium and germanium metals to the United States, later extending similar restrictions to antimony.
The DRC, meanwhile, has tightened controls on its cobalt exports and implemented quotas to manage supply and maintain high prices.
These measures disrupt established supply chains and highlight the difficulty in substituting or reshoring production, especially since developing new refining capacity can take years.
The result: defense manufacturers face unpredictable access to materials critical to their operations, threatening readiness and technological progress.
Faced with these vulnerabilities, the US, UK and Europe are accelerating their efforts to secure future supplies of defense-critical metals. Each region brings a different approach, shaped by its resources, policy landscape and industrial strengths.
The US response is both large-scale and multi-layered. Under the Defense Production Act, significant investment is flowing into domestic processing and refining for a broad spectrum of critical metals, including those most essential for defense.
In parallel, the Defense Logistics Agency is rebuilding strategic stockpiles, creating a buffer against supply shocks. “The ambition is enormous, though there are still questions about focus.”
The US strategy also includes by-product recovery from domestic aluminium and zinc smelters, and robust diplomatic efforts through initiatives like the Mineral Security Partnership, forging reliable trade agreements with allied nations.
Europe has elevated these metals through its Critical Raw Materials Act, directly linking mineral security to its defense and advanced electronics ambitions. The push is on to scale up extraction, processing, and, crucially, recycling, where Europe is positioning itself as a global leader.
Innovative procurement platforms now help buyers and suppliers aggregate demand and diversify sourcing, while new partnerships with Canada, Australia, and other allies help reduce single-source dependency.
However, there is concern that Europe and the UK lack the deep pockets and reaction speed of the US.
With more limited domestic reserves and financial resources, the UK focuses on resiliency and diversification. Its critical minerals strategy targets onshoring of refining and recycling, supported by research and innovation funding.
The UK is also re-evaluating stockpiles and long-term agreements to maintain steady access to these strategic materials, ensuring flexibility in response to fast-changing markets and regulations.
The contest over strategic defense materials is only intensifying. For manufacturers and procurement teams, the key takeaway is clear: relying on a single supplier or nation is no longer a safe option. You should regularly evaluate your own supply chains, identify sources of vulnerability, and partner with suppliers invested in secure, ethical, and diversified production.
By understanding the critical roles of cobalt, gallium, germanium and antimony, and monitoring policy trends, you can safeguard your operations and help future-proof your organization against material disruptions.
The next step is clear: engage directly with trusted industry partners, leverage developing recycling and innovation resources, and stay informed about evolving global markets. This strategic focus is how you’ll maintain both operational security and a competitive edge, no matter how the international landscape shifts.
To hear more of Jon Stibbs’ insights on critical defense metals, supply‑chain concentration and the strategic risks facing Western manufacturers, listen to the full Fastmarkets podcast conversation.
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