US Defense Crisis: How China's Gallium Monopoly Impacts F-35 and Precision Missile Production
The strategic implications of China's control over gallium for US defense and the 6G technology race.
1What is Gallium and Why Does It Matter?
Gallium is a soft, silvery metal byproduct of aluminum production, critical for high-power radar systems, electronic warfare, and 6G technology. China controls 94-98% of global gallium production, creating a near-total monopoly. The US has no primary domestic production and relies 100% on imports, creating a strategic vulnerability in defense and technology sectors.
2China's Export Ban and Military Implications
In December 2024, China banned exports of gallium, germanium, and antimony to the US, specifically prohibiting military end-users. This move retaliated against US semiconductor export controls. While civilian exports partially resumed in November 2025 under a temporary trade truce, the military ban remains in place. The Pentagon's lack of gallium in national stockpiles exacerbates the crisis.
3The F-35 Radar Crisis
F-35s from Lot 17 onward are being delivered with counterweights in their nose cones due to delays in the AN/APG-85 radar system. This gallium nitride (GaN) technology radar requires 82 kilowatts, necessitating structural changes to the aircraft's forward fuselage. Supply chain issues from Japan and Germany's limited capacity have compounded the gallium shortage, leaving hundreds of jets without functional radars.
4Impact on Electronic Warfare Systems
Gallium nitride underpins critical systems like the EA-18G Growler's high-power jammers, the F-35's electronic warfare suite, and large ground-based radar arrays. Pentagon supply chains reportedly depend on Chinese suppliers across numerous weapons components. This systemic dependency creates multiple potential failure points in US defense capabilities beyond just the F-35 program.
5China's 6G Breakthrough
Researchers from Peking University and City University of Hong Kong published in Nature their development of the world's first 'all-frequency' 6G chip. This 11x1.7mm device integrates the entire 0.5-115 GHz wireless spectrum onto a single chip, achieving speeds exceeding 100 Gbps in testing—about 500 times current 5G speeds. The photonic-electronic design uses thin-film lithium niobate instead of gallium.
66G's Industrial Significance
6G's true importance lies in industrial applications rather than consumer use. Precision robotics, autonomous systems, and AI-driven manufacturing will require 6G's ultra-low latency and high data rates. China's control over both raw materials and R&D infrastructure gives it a significant advantage in shaping the future industrial landscape, with defense implications mirroring the gallium situation.
7America's Structural Challenge
Gallium production depends on aluminum and zinc industries where China dominates. Building domestic gallium capacity requires not just funding but a decade-long industrial transformation. During this transition, US military and technological dependencies will persist. The crisis highlights how basic industrial capabilities underpin advanced defense systems in ways not easily remedied.
8The Fragility of the Trade Truce
The November 2025 Trump-Xi trade truce temporarily lifted civilian gallium export bans under a licensing regime that China can revoke at will. The continued military prohibition creates permanent risk for US defense industries. This situation demonstrates how strategic material dependencies create national security vulnerabilities that diplomatic agreements cannot fully resolve.
9Military Advantages of GaN Technology
Gallium nitride-based radar systems offer significantly higher power and thermal efficiency than traditional systems. China's reported deployment of GaN technology in its J-20 fighter, combined with US delays in fielding the AN/APG-85, is narrowing America's qualitative edge. In electronic warfare, GaN's capabilities could redefine modern combat dynamics, making supply security even more critical.
10Global Supply Chain Restructuring
The gallium crisis has exposed critical vulnerabilities in defense supply chains. While the US seeks to build alternative networks with allies like Japan and Germany, these efforts face limitations against China's industrial infrastructure and production scale. Strategic material self-sufficiency is becoming a new priority for national security, requiring fundamental changes to industrial and technological policy.
11The Technical Revolution in 6G Chips
China's 6G chip breakthrough uses thin-film lithium niobate in a photonic-electronic design capable of retuning across 6 GHz of spectrum in 180 microseconds—a crucial advantage in dense electronic warfare environments. The technology aims for plug-and-play modules in phones, base stations, drones, and IoT devices, potentially giving Chinese manufacturers first-mover advantage in next-generation communications.
12Strategic Consequences and Future Projections
The gallium crisis reveals structural US dependencies in defense and technology. China's dual control over raw materials and R&D capacity positions it to dominate 6G and advanced military technologies. This shift signals a potential rebalancing of post-Cold War global power dynamics. America's ability to close this gap appears limited in the near term, requiring long-term industrial and technological realignment.
Original article: Hacker News: Front Page — ABD'nin F-35 ve Hassas Füze Üretimindeki Gallium Krizi