Dossier
Ohio-class submarine
Coverage of Ohio-class submarine in the Nexus archive.
- The U.S. Navy’s Subsea Rare Earth Vulnerability
The U.S. Navy's Columbia-class submarines, set to replace Ohio-class vessels by the 2030s and 2040s, rely heavily on rare earths refined in China for their propulsion, stealth, and strike capabilities, creating a critical vulnerability. These submarines use electric motors and advanced technology that depend on materials China dominates in refining.