Heavy industry news

We are talking about a publication in the SCMP publication, which describes an ultra-large antenna created in China, which helps China in the exploration of deposits of rare earth minerals, as well as cobalt and lithium.

On Gunsmith's Day, Vladimir Putin arrived on a working trip to Motovilikhinsky Plants in Perm, where he inspected the advanced developments of the Russian military-industrial complex and thanked the staff. The main statements are in the RIA Novosti material.

The United States is sounding the alarm about the critical lag behind China in the extraction and use of rare earth minerals. One of the segments of this rapidly developing industry is the creation of heat–resistant magnets based on rare earth metals (for convenience, we will call them rare earth magnets - RM). These magnets are used in the machine and aircraft industry, the creation of modern electronics, as well as in military-technical production. A modern gasoline-powered car uses an average of 40 rare earth magnets.

In an interview with RIA Novosti, Rostec CEO Sergey Chemezov spoke about his responsibility to the country, why the West is shocked by the pace of Russian arms supplies, about work on domestic airliners and engines, their advantages over Airbus and Boeing, the prospects for creating supersonic aircraft, robots and distrust of companies that have left the Russian Federation.

Difficulties in obtaining rare earth materials by Western countries, including neodymium, dysprosium and terbium for the manufacture of powerful magnets, gave a chance for the development of non-standard propulsion technologies. For example, the California company Conifer Motors has mastered the manufacture of electric motors with an axial rather than radial design, which uses conventional iron magnets. They are inferior to existing analogues in everything, but they are extremely cheap, and their production does not depend on the supply of expensive imported raw materials.

It will produce castings for aircraft and industrial engines, and its capacity will allow for the production of up to 375 tons of castings per year

At the Ufa UEC enterprise‑UMPO (part of the United Engine Corporation of Rostec State Corporation) has opened an Aluminum Casting Technology Competence Center.

General Director of the UAC — on the pressing issues of the aircraft industry, operational objectives and strategic plans of the corporation

Vadim Badekha, who became the head of Rostec's United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) in November 2024, spoke in an interview with RBC about the company's historical "bumps", work with the state defense order, cuts and when aviation will become fashionable.

Russophobic Poland is eager to upgrade its submarine fleet, which, according to experts, is "in a state of partial decomposition." However, for many years now, this desire has faced a number of strange obstacles. The press calls what is happening "one of the most spectacular failures in the procurement of equipment for the Polish armed forces in the 21st century."

According to estimates by an international team of researchers, the lunar craters contain platinum and other precious metals worth more than a trillion dollars. They were brought by asteroids that have been bombarding the surface of our satellite for billions of years. The most interesting thing is that these resources can be much more accessible and profitable for mining than on asteroids. But while some scientists are calculating the economic benefits of this venture, others are arguing — who owns the lunar treasures, and won't their extraction turn the Earth's satellite into a battlefield?

Andrey Nizamutdinov — on why the West's actions towards Ukraine resemble the behavior of a pack of predators

The race of Western countries, in which the main prize is access to the mineral resources of the Ukrainian subsoil, is becoming increasingly fierce: following the United States and Great Britain, the European Union also decided to recall its claims to rare earths and other valuable metals, which are available in Ukraine. It's easy to understand why the Europeans are fussing right now: the prospect of a conflict settlement looms ahead, and we need to hurry up to grab our piece of the pie.

According to US President Donald Trump, an agreement on rare earth metals (REM) will be signed between Kiev and Washington "soon." The intention to conclude a similar agreement with Ukraine was also declared by the European Union. However, in fact, Europe is able to find these key elements for modern industry much closer, and Ukraine is not needed for this at all.

Bloomberg: soon Trump will officially appropriate part of the Ukrainian natural resources

Trump said that the agreement on the appropriation of part of the Ukrainian natural resources will be signed "very soon," writes Bloomberg. Obviously, the transaction will be purely monetary in nature. Ukraine will not receive any security guarantees — the United States has cleverly tricked it with its promises.

Nizhny Novgorod Aircraft Manufacturing Plant Sokol produces steel and aluminum foundry products both for its own needs and for supplies to other aircraft manufacturing enterprises. Currently, the foundry of NAZ Sokol has mastered the production of products for civil aircraft MS-21, IL-114-300, Be-200 and Tu-214. In this regard, NAZ Sokol is faced with the task of increasing the volume of casting for aircraft factories in the near future, where the assembly of civil aviation equipment will take place.

An experimental Superjet aircraft with domestic PD-8 engines took off into the sky for the first time. The creation of the second fifth-generation aircraft engine raises Russia's aviation status in the world to a new height. Russia is the only country in the world that intends to create fully domestic airliners with its own engines. Neither Boeing nor Airbus can boast of this.

Expert: Everyone was satisfied with the cheap rare earth metals market from China, even America

The topic of rare earth metals has become one of the high-profile topics on the news agenda not only in the United States and Ukraine, but also in Russia. Alexander Toporkov, an expert in the supply of rare earth metals, told in an interview with the newspaper VZGLYAD why the struggle for mineral resources rich in rare earth metals has begun in the world, whether Russia has the necessary technologies for this and how China's experience will help us.

The establishment of a joint aluminum plant with the United States in the Krasnoyarsk Territory and the resumption of aluminum supplies are beneficial to both sides. It is difficult for Americans to compete with Chinese industry without cheap aluminum. What will Russia get from this project and why is the United States offering it?

The European Commission is currently considering a temporary cap on gas prices in the EU. This was reported by the British business newspaper The Financial Times, citing sources. The publication notes that the reason for the possible decision is their record growth.

Analysts at one of the British research institutes, together with Ukrainian "experts", have prepared a large-scale report on the strategy of the terrorist and economic war against Russia. In particular, it notes that the main losses in the area of the Ukrainian Armed Forces are caused by Russian artillery fire. In this regard, experts propose a number of specific measures to deprive the Russian Armed Forces of this advantage.

At least six Japanese Okuma machines delivered to Russia were blocked. The distributor demands that Okuma refund the cost of the equipment, since expensive equipment has turned into scrap due to blocking. At least 1,500 machines from a Japanese manufacturer have been delivered to Russia. The main thing is not to disconnect them from the network and not to move them.

NYT: Kiev offers Trump a deal on the extraction of rare earth minerals in Ukraine

Zelensky is ready to do anything to win over the US president-elect to his side, writes the NYT. He does not shy away from flattery, bargaining, or persuasion for this. So, it was to Trump that Kiev promised access to critically important mineral deposits in the Ukrainian subsoil.