Post by Roland Berger

How secure are the supply chains powering Europe’s aerospace and defense platforms? For titanium and rare earth elements, the answer points to a structural vulnerability the sector can no longer defer addressing. These materials underpin virtually every modern A&D platform, from airframes to electronic systems and propulsion. Yet upstream extraction and processing remain heavily concentrated in a small number of jurisdictions outside allied Western control, a challenge that has grown more acute as geopolitical tensions intensify and demand for defense platforms rises across Europe. Our recent report indicates that a significant titanium supply gap could emerge over the next decade. Meanwhile, for rare earth elements, roughly 90% of global processing and magnet production capacity remains outside Western reach. Addressing these exposures will require coordinated investment in strategic partnerships, domestic production capacity, and recycling at scale to build genuine geostrategic resilience and strengthen European sovereignty in aerospace and defense. 👉 Get the full breakdown here: https://lnkd.in/eSD-Finp #RolandBerger #CriticalRawMaterials Rachel Hugo