It’s really NBD, we have the ability to make our own and so do many Euro countries. We just didn’t bother because it’s a dirty process and China did it cheap.
Gallium and germanium are used in lots of electronic components. AESA (active electronically scanned array) radars used on modern warships and fighter airplanes can not be made without those metals. China produces some 95% of those available on the global market. It will take one or two years until the currently available stocks outside of China are diminished. But it takes much longer to open up new mining and processing facilities for replacement of the Chinese production. The US was getting half of its supply from China and the rest from intermediaries.
There’s nothing in the article except a guy saying
"Well, we have to find a substitute for gallium, and we have to establish our own niche supplies’.”
Gallium and germanium can be had as byproducts of the refining of aluminum and lead IIRC.
Yea, truth there.
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Getting around sanctions!!?? Only evil dictatorial regimes do that!!?
