# Gallium Shortage Threatens US Missile and F-35 Production

The US faces production bottlenecks for precision missiles and fully functional F-35 jets because it lacks a domestic supply of gallium. This critical metal is used in advanced radar and electronic components, but the US relies heavily on imports, primarily from China. The shortage exposes a significant vulnerability in America's defense manufacturing supply chain.

**Importance:** 4/5

## Sources

### Technology
- [Hacker News](https://sonar21.com/the-galling-gallium-chokehold-why-the-us-cannot-produce-precision-missiles-and-fully-functional-f-35s/) — Wed, 05 Aug 2026 00:54:18 +0000