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Lockheed Martin pursues North American scandium and germanium supplies to reduce China dependence

Lockheed Martin is negotiating potential supplies of scandium and germanium from North American producers, including NioCorp, Teck Resources and 5N Plus, as pressure builds to strengthen U.S. defense-material supply chains. NioCorp’s preliminary agreement could cover up to 15 metric tons of scandium oxide annually for 10 years.

Discovered 2026-08-04T10:15:59.261711-07:00 | 2026-08-04T10:15:59.261711-07:00

Briefing

What Hype is tracking

The discussions address defense exposure to concentrated mineral supply chains, particularly as China tightens restrictions on strategic materials.
NioCorp’s memorandum could provide Lockheed Martin with up to 15 metric tons of scandium oxide annually for a decade, creating a potential long-term offtake anchor for a North American source.
The talks signal growing pressure on defense contractors to secure domestic or allied supplies of materials critical to production and reduce reliance on China.

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Seeking Alpha news.ssbcrack.com DefenseNews.com Reuters