Raw Material Risk Threatens Europe’s Drone Race
Europe’s drone build-out is increasing demand for critical minerals including gallium, germanium, rare-earth elements, cobalt and graphite. Venture capital funding for European defense start-ups is projected to quadruple to €10.5bn, with about three-quarters going to drone development and manufacturing, while cobalt supply is concentrated in extraction in the Democratic Republic of Congo and refining in China. The EU has begun taking measures including the 2024 Critical Raw Materials Act and the 2025 RESourceEU Action Plan, and in early October the Commission announced 46 “Strategic Projects” under the CRMA, 30 of which focus on refining and recycling.
Why it matters: The article shows that critical minerals and concentrated supply chains are central to Europe’s drone industry and its strategic autonomy.