We all know it, metals are widely used in many sectors, including electronics, automotive and renewable energy. But we also have the arms industry, which is highly dependent on certain metals and rare earths. Resources are beginning to be depleted, which worries the main players in the arms industry. Details.
Armaments, a vital need for minerals
Many do not know it, but the arms industry is highly dependent on certain metals and rare earths. Among the combat equipment that are the biggest consumers of ores are fighter jets and missiles. Take for example the Dassault Rafale fighter jets whose wings are made of titanium. Not to forget their engine which contains nickel and cobalt, or their electro-optical systems which cannot do without neodymium and yttrium, two minerals from the “rare earths” family.
On the missile side, they cannot do without titanium, but also nickel, copper, cobalt, as well as neodymium, tantalum and other metals and rare earths. Tank armor requires the use of tungsten. Finally, missile warheads necessarily require tantalum in their manufacture. These are only simple examples among many others. All this to demonstrate that the arms sector truly depends on metals and rare earths.
Which strategic metals are becoming depleted?
The concern about a possible shortage of strategic metals is not new. Seven years ago, France created the Comes, a Committee for Strategic Metals whose purpose is to establish a “place for dialogue and reflection and a source of proposals to the minister in charge of mines in the development and implementation of the policy for managing strategic metals”. Since then, the committee brings together all the main players from industries that closely depend on metals. For France, there are the major aeronautics, space and naval groups such as Safran, Airbus Defense, and Naval Group.
Also in 2011, the European Union had compiled a list of so-called “critical” metals. These are ores threatened with shortages even though they are indispensable in several sectors, not just the arms sector. According to the European Commission, “39 raw materials have been identified as essential for the production of defence systems and their components”. The report also added that 16 metals are currently declared “critical” by the EU: cobalt, platinum and palladium.