China's newest air force jets have next-generation radars. New USAF F-35's have no radars at all.

Quick Overview

China is leveraging its near-monopoly on raw materials like gallium and germanium, which are essential for advanced semiconductor technology, to gain a strategic advantage over the US military-industrial complex, evidenced by China fielding J-20 fighters with advanced Gallium Nitride (GaN) radars while the US Air Force is reportedly delivering F-35s without their required APG-85 radars due to integration challenges and supply chain disruptions.

Key Points: China accounts for 99% of worldwide primary low-purity gallium production in 2024, giving it control over a critical resource for advanced military electronics. China's strategic advantage is enabling it to deploy cutting-edge phased array radar systems on J-20 fighters at a pace unmatched by the United States. US Air Force F-35s are being delivered without the new AN/APG-85 radar, possibly until Lot 20, due to integration challenges between the APG-81 and the future APG-85 radar systems. F-35s delivered without radars are significantly constrained operationally and may be restricted to training or ferry roles until retrofitted. Lockheed Martin CEO suggested that the APG-85 integration is 'challenging' due to different bulkhead configurations compared to the existing APG-81 radar. The issues underscore how critical supply chain links, like the supply of gallium, can affect the remainder of the chain, leading to operational deficiencies like aircraft sitting on the tarmac. The US is 100% dependent on gallium imports, highlighting a major strategic vulnerability exacerbated by China's control over the raw material.

Context: The video discusses the strategic implications of China's near-monopoly on key raw materials, specifically gallium and germanium, which are vital for advanced semiconductor technology like Gallium Nitride (GaN) used in modern radar systems. This resource control is contrasted with reported delays affecting the US F-35 fighter program, where aircraft are being delivered missing their advanced APG-85 radars due to integration and supply chain issues.