In exclusive reporting dated August 4, 2026, Reuters revealed that Lockheed Martin, the world's largest defense contractor, has signed a preliminary agreement with Colorado-based mining company NioCorp Developments to purchase 15 tonnes of scandium annually from a Nebraska mine slated to begin production in 2028 with a nameplate capacity of 100 tonnes per year. This volume represents roughly one-quarter of global annual scandium demand, which stands at approximately 60 tonnes. Concurrently, Lockheed Martin is in talks with Teck Resources and 5N Plus regarding long-term germanium supply. This development follows a July 2026 executive order by President Trump mandating that, starting in 2027, defense contractors must generally avoid procuring critical minerals from restricted countries such as China. The United States has not commercially mined scandium since 1969, and China currently controls about 90% of global rare earth refining capacity. The new supply chain is expected to increase costs by 30–50%, with pricing and contract terms remaining key negotiation hurdles. Industry significance: Scandium is a critical additive for aluminum-scandium (Al-Sc) alloys; adding just 0.3–0.5% scandium markedly enhances strength, heat resistance, and weldability. Scalmalloy (Al-Mg-Sc-Zr), developed by APWorks (an Airbus subsidiary), is the benchmark high-performance aluminum alloy powder for aerospace-grade additive manufacturing, widely used in lightweight aerospace and motorsport components. With the world's largest military buyer locking in a quarter of global scandium supply, the medium- to long-term availability and pricing of Al-Sc-based AM powders could be significantly affected. Value for powder buyers: (1) This news does not directly pertain to additive manufacturing, but Lockheed's move means defense demand will compete with the commercial AM industry for limited scandium resources, introducing medium- to long-term uncertainty over raw material access for Al-Sc powders (e.g., Scalmalloy and similar grades). (2) NioCorp's mine, once operational in 2028 with 100 tonnes annual capacity, would still leave 85 tonnes for the market after Lockheed's 15 tonnes, theoretically easing supply tightness—however, the defense sector's purchasing power may keep scandium prices elevated rather than driving them down quickly. (3) Buyers should monitor NioCorp's project progress and Lockheed's subsequent procurement announcements as key risk indicators for the Al-Sc powder supply chain, while also tracking other scandium projects (e.g., Scandium International in Australia) to gauge supply diversification.