# NATO Identifies Critical Defence Materials

NATO’s December 2024 list identifies 12 raw materials important to defence, with uses in aircraft structures, engines, avionics, electrical systems and emerging battery technologies. Concentrated mining and refining—particularly for cobalt, tungsten, gallium, graphite and rare earth elements—creates supply-chain exposure for aerospace manufacturers. This is supply-chain intelligence rather than a specific contract opportunity: procurement teams and contractors should map material provenance, assess alternate sources, and factor qualification and certification lead times into sourcing plans.

- Suppliers supporting defence aerospace may be affected by concentrated sources of mining and refining for the materials identified, making provenance and upstream supplier visibility relevant to procurement planning.
- Contractors should evaluate alternate sources for the named materials and account for the time required to qualify and certify them before relying on substitutions.
- The signal identifies no solicitation, contract value, or award deadline; its immediate relevance is long-range sourcing and supply-chain risk assessment.

**Jurisdictions:** international
**Industries:** Defense & Military
**Published:** November 08, 2026

### Government Entities
- North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)
- U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)
- International Energy Agency (IEA)

### Sources
- [Which materials are critical to defence?](https://www.adsadvance.co.uk/materials-critical-defence) - ADS Advance