China’s newest air force jets have next-generation radars. New USAF F-35’s have no radars at all.

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Kevin Walmsley
INSIDE CHINA BUSINESS

Inside China Business

Feb 23, 2026

Gallium Nitride semiconductors are crucial for advanced radar and missile guidance applications. China has a monopoly on gallium processing, and export bans on gallium for military use. Pentagon contractors cannot build radars for the F-35, among other platforms, because of supply chain issues related to gallium supplies. So they are delivering these aircraft with “ballast” in place of radar systems. Closing scene, Tongguan Kiln, Changsha, Hunan

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Resources and links:
China’s ‘silent sanction’ on US semiconductors creates a weapons generation gap https://www.scmp.com/news/china/scien…
China’s Top Air Superiority Fighter Just Beat the U.S. F-35 to Integrate a Next Generation Gallium Nitride Radar https://militarywatchmagazine.com/art… Current F-35 Configuration Complicates Fielding Of APG-85 Radar https://www.defensedaily.com/current-…
Reports Suggest F-35s Are Being Delivered Without Radar Amid APG-85 Delays https://theaviationist.com/2026/02/12…
US Geological Survey, 2026 Report, Gallium https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs…
The 99% Monopoly: The Chip Metal America Cannot Buy https://shanakaanslemperera.substack….
EXCLUSIVE: Eyeing risk of radar ‘delays,’ Lockheed proposes new F-35 fuselage design https://breakingdefense.com/2025/06/e…

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