A remote Australian town will become a "cornerstone" of the Western supply of scandium, a rare earth needed for defense, planes and data centers, miner Sunrise Energy Metals said on Aug. 8 after a $400 million U.S. pledge.

Donald Trump announced billions in critical minerals funding including a $566 million loan for a scandium mine in central-west NSW owned by Sunrise Energy Metals.

Nearly all scandium – a critical mineral used in fighter jets – comes from China, Russia and Ukraine. Now the US and its weapons contractor intend to get it from Australia.