Gallium is a soft, silvery by‑product of aluminum refining that the United States no longer produces. China controls 94‑98% of global output, while the USGS reports the US has 100% import reliance. A decade‑long build‑out of aluminum, zinc, and refining lines is required before a nation can supply gallium, a fact that became a strategic weapon when Beijing banned exports to U.S. military end‑users in December 2024. The ban was partially lifted for civilians in November 2025, but the restriction on military sales remained.

The shortage has manifested in U.S. fighters: F‑35s from Lot 17 onward arrive with counterweights in place of the missing AN/APG‑85 radar, which uses gallium‑nitride (Ga‑N) technology and demands 82 kW. The delay in APG‑85 certification, coupled with strained supply, forced jets to use ballast instead of the intended radar. The same gallium dependency affects high‑power jammers on the EA‑18G Growler and ground‑based radar arrays.

Beyond defense, gallium‑based chips underpin the next‑generation 6G network. Chinese researchers have built the world’s first all‑frequency 6G chip, and the country’s control of raw inputs and engineering talent positions it to shape emerging standards and industrial growth. The U.S. cannot lead in 6G without securing its own gallium supply chain, a challenge that extends to precision missiles, smart manufacturing, and future connectivity.