{"id":113035,"date":"2025-09-15T05:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-09-14T23:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/aviationa2z.com\/?p=113035"},"modified":"2025-09-15T01:40:20","modified_gmt":"2025-09-14T20:10:20","slug":"china-rare-earth-monopoly-threatens-f-35-upgrade","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/aviationa2z.com\/index.php\/2025\/09\/15\/china-rare-earth-monopoly-threatens-f-35-upgrade\/","title":{"rendered":"China\u2019s Rare Earth Monopoly Threatens Most Expensive Fighter Jet in the World Upgrade"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

WASHINGTON-<\/strong> More than 1,100 Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II stealth aircraft<\/a> have been delivered worldwide, with the United States (US) operating over 600 of them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The aircraft are central to American defense strategy and play a vital role in the security of allies such as Japan (NRT) and South Korea (ICN), both of which face long-standing disputes with China.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO), the F-35\u2019s advanced stealth design and sensor fusion make it indispensable for the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) and partner nations. However, the fighter\u2019s most ambitious upgrade program\u2014Block 4\u2014faces major delays and rising costs, largely due to its dependence on supply chains tied to China (PEK).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"China\u2019s
F-35 Lightning II; Photo- Wikipedia<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

F-35 Fighter Jet Upgrade Challenge<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Since entering U.S. Air Force (USAF) service in 2015, the F-35 has been steadily enhanced through incremental upgrades known as blocks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Block 4 upgrade, launched in 2019, is designed to extend the aircraft\u2019s radar reach, strengthen air-to-air engagement, and expand precision strike capabilities. It also integrates advanced air-to-air missiles and next-generation radar systems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Originally, all 66 planned Block 4 capabilities were expected by 2026. That deadline has been repeatedly pushed back, first to 2029 and now to at least 2031.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The GAO report warns that even by then, Lockheed Martin may only deliver a limited set of the promised features. Costs have surged by more than $6 billion over original projections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A major factor in these delays is Technology Refresh 3 (TR-3), a $1.9 billion package of hardware and software upgrades. Without TR-3, Block 4 cannot function. In 2023, F-35 deliveries averaged a 61-day delay, but by 2024, delays stretched to 238 days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"China\u2019s
Photo: Needpix.com<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

How China Holds the Supply Chain<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The most pressing challenge is China\u2019s<\/a> dominance over rare earth elements (REEs) and gallium-based semiconductors. These materials are essential for advanced radar, stealth coatings, and high-performance magnets inside the F-35.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One critical upgrade, the AN\/APG-85 radar, depends on gallium nitride (GaN) technology. GaN provides higher power density and better efficiency than gallium arsenide, enabling greater detection range and resistance to jamming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, China controls more than 90 percent of global refined gallium production and 68 percent of proven reserves, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Beijing has imposed strict export restrictions on gallium and germanium since 2023, tightening them further in late 2024. This chokehold on raw materials directly threatens the timeline of the F-35 Block 4 modernization, Eurasian Times<\/a> reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"F-35\"
Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II; Photo- Wikipedia<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Rare Earths Inside Every F-35<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A single F-35 contains over 900 pounds of rare earths, making it one of the most resource-intensive aircraft ever built. These include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n