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

Описание: 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

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...

RTX unveils new APG-82(V)X radar enhanced with gallium nitride
https://www.rtx.com/news/news-center/...

China’s ‘silent sanction’ on US semiconductors creates a weapons generation gap
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/scien...