RTX warned that China’s export restrictions on 12 critical minerals threaten its $289 billion order backlog. These materials include gallium and neodymium. They are essential for manufacturing missile systems, munitions, and laser weapons.
China dominates the global mining and processing of these rare-earth minerals. This concentration creates a strategic vulnerability for the U.S. defense industrial base.
The restrictions also impact major contractors including Lockheed Martin and Boeing. These companies are seeking alternative sources to prevent production delays for fighter jets and night-vision optics. RTX and its peers are currently ramping up production to meet record global demand.