REAlloys Secures 10% of Sheep Creek Rare Earths for Lockheed Martin Supply Chain
REAlloys secured up to 10% of the Sheep Creek mine’s dysprosium, terbium, yttrium and NdPr output via an MOU with U.S. Critical Materials Corp, backing a 300-ton per year metallization plant. The domestic metal-to-magnet supply chain will support Lockheed Martin’s F-35 and missile guidance systems ahead of the 2027 ban.
1. Sheep Creek Rare Earths MOU
REAlloys signed a memorandum of understanding with U.S. Critical Materials Corp to secure up to 10% of output from the high-grade Sheep Creek project in Montana. The agreement encompasses dysprosium, terbium, yttrium and neodymium-praseodymium, key inputs for high-performance defense magnets.
2. Metallization Plant Development
A 300-ton per year metallothermal facility is under development in Ohio to convert rare earth oxides into finished metals and magnet-grade alloys. Federal support includes a letter of interest for up to $200 million from the Export-Import Bank, and engineering design work for scalable modular production.
3. Impact on Lockheed Martin Supply Chain
The integrated domestic chain will feed Lockheed Martin’s F-35 fighter jet, missile guidance systems, radar platforms and other defense hardware, ensuring continuity of critical rare earth supplies before the January 2027 ban on Chinese-origin materials.