Why Ground-to-Round Is the Future of U.S. Munitions in a Multi-Front World
The Critical Minerals Powering Precision Strikes, and Why America Is Racing to Secure Them from China
As the Pentagon gears up for the unsettling prospect of simultaneous conflicts across the globe, one quiet revolution is underway deep in the supply chains that fuel modern warfare. Precision-guided missiles, armor-piercing rounds, and advanced guidance systems don't just rely on cutting-edge engineering, they depend on a handful of obscure minerals that have become geopolitical flashpoints. With adversaries like China and Russia potentially coordinating strikes, the U.S. is waking up to a stark reality: without secure access to these raw materials, even the mightiest military could run dry in a prolonged fight.
At the heart of this shift lies the Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act, signed into law on December 18, 2025. This sweeping legislation mandates the Department of War to assess munitions stockpiles rigorously, calculating how long American forces could sustain high-intensity operations against multiple major adversaries before critical supplies dwindle. It also requires a concrete plan to rebuild those reserves, factoring in ally contributions and adversary capabilities. More than $25 billion is earmarked to restore munitions production, targeting everything from Javelins and Tomahawks to artillery shells and air-to-air missiles.

