中国出手！美国六代战机，突传变数！

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses China's recent export controls on rare earth elements in response to the U.S. tariffs imposed by the Trump administration, highlighting the potential impact on U.S. military projects, particularly the sixth-generation fighter jet program [1][3][4]. Group 1: Rare Earth Elements and Their Importance - Rare earth elements, often referred to as "industrial MSG," are critical for various advanced technologies, including military applications, with 87% of the supply chain for 153 types of U.S. military equipment relying on Chinese processing [2][9]. - China controls approximately 70% of global rare earth production and 90% of refining capacity, making it a dominant player in the rare earth supply chain [2][9]. - In 2023, China's rare earth production reached 240,000 tons, accounting for two-thirds of global output, with reserves of 44 million tons, representing 40% of the world's total [9]. Group 2: Impact on U.S. Military Projects - The recent export controls by China include seven types of medium and heavy rare earth elements essential for aerospace electronics, which could significantly hinder the development of the U.S. sixth-generation fighter jet [3][10]. - The F-47 fighter jet, for example, is expected to require 8-12 kilograms of heavy rare earths per aircraft, which is double the amount needed for the F-35, indicating a substantial dependency on these materials [10]. - Despite the Pentagon claiming to have a strategic reserve of 500 tons of heavy rare earths, 83.7% of U.S. imports in 2024 are projected to come from China, with a staggering 97% dependency on heavy rare earths [10]. Group 3: Technological and Economic Implications - The rare earth elements are crucial for high-performance magnets, radar systems, and other advanced military technologies, making them indispensable for U.S. defense capabilities [5][6][8]. - The technology for separating rare earth elements, particularly China's "rare earth cascade extraction" technique, achieves a purity of 99.9999%, while U.S. suppliers can only provide up to 99.5%, which is less cost-effective [10]. - The overall development cost for the F-47 is estimated to reach $50 billion, with total expenditures potentially exceeding $100 billion if production plans for 414 units proceed as intended, emphasizing the financial stakes involved [10].