China restricts 12 critical minerals, threatening Raytheon's $289B defense backlog supply chain.

China has restricted access to 12 critical minerals essential for manufacturing advanced laser weapons, posing a supply risk for defense contractors like Raytheon. Raytheon's $289 billion backlog, driven by missile systems and munitions, depends heavily on these minerals such as gallium and neodymium. Other defense giants like Lockheed Martin and Boeing also acknowledge rare-earth mineral supply challenges. The industry faces pressure to find alternative sources outside China to sustain production and meet growing military demand.