Minnesota-based Niron Magnetics and Moog Inc. in New York have partnered to evaluate rare earth-free magnets for use in guided munitions.
Under the collaboration, Moog will test Niron’s iron nitride permanent magnets in actuator systems for missiles and guided weapons, assessing performance and durability to ensure integration meets defense standards.
Niron’s magnets use iron salts, nitrogen, and ammonia, which are widely available and more affordable than rare earth minerals, according to Bloomberg.
The work marks Niron’s first publicly disclosed defense-focused application of its technology, the company said.
“Moog and Niron Magnetics both have a proven track record of innovating solutions to meet the industry’s evolving demands,” Niron Magnetics CEO Jonathan Rowntree stated.
“We look forward to combining our efforts to provide motion control capabilities that showcase American ingenuity at its finest, ensuring the technologies that our defensive forces rely on to do their jobs are as reliable, effective, and secure as possible.”
Promoting American Industry
The partnership comes as the US government works to cut down on its dependence on Chinese supply chains for critical components.
Beijing currently dominates the global magnet market, producing the majority of rare earth magnets used in defense, aerospace, and high-tech systems, with the International Energy Agency estimating China controls over 90 percent of magnet processing worldwide.
Those magnets, typically made from neodymium, iron, and boron, are valued for their strength and heat tolerance but are subject to geopolitical and supply-chain risk, Tectonic reported.
Moog, a major supplier of motion-control systems for aircraft, satellites, and missiles, said its collaboration with Nitron aligns with the Pentagon’s aim to diversify suppliers and expand American manufacturing capacity.
“Reducing reliance on rare earth minerals strengthens supply chain resilience and enhances Moog’s ability to deliver uninterrupted support to the warfighter,” said Jason Weiss, land and sea systems general manager at Moog.
“By proactively addressing potential vulnerabilities, we’re not only safeguarding operational readiness but also reinforcing our commitment to innovation and national security.”
