Niron Magnetics and Moog Inc. Announce Strategic Collaboration to Advance Rare-Earth-Free Actuator Technologies for Next-Generation Defense Applications
Niron Magnetics, recognized globally as a pioneer in high-performance permanent magnets that eliminate the need for rare-earth elements, has entered into a strategic collaboration with Moog Inc. (NYSE: MOG.A and MOG.B), a world-leading developer of precision motion control solutions. Together, the two companies aim to accelerate the development and deployment of advanced actuator technologies for guided munitions and other critical defense systems. This partnership brings together Niron’s groundbreaking Iron Nitride magnet platform with Moog’s extensive expertise in high-performance precision actuation—creating an opportunity to fundamentally reshape how advanced weapon systems are designed, built, and supplied.
At the core of this collaboration is a shared goal: to evaluate and integrate rare-earth-free magnet technologies into defense actuation systems that require exceptional performance, reliability, and responsiveness. Guided munitions, for example, rely on sophisticated electromechanical actuators to convert electrical inputs into highly precise mechanical movements—movements that determine targeting accuracy, in-flight maneuverability, and overall mission success. By exploring the use of Niron Magnetics’ proprietary Iron Nitride (FeN) technology, Moog aims to validate a pathway to maintain or potentially enhance these performance thresholds while reducing reliance on global rare-earth mineral supply chains.
Rare-earth elements such as neodymium and dysprosium have long been essential components in the manufacturing of high-strength permanent magnets. However, their extraction, refinement, and supply are heavily concentrated in a limited number of countries, creating geopolitical risk, supply instability, and vulnerability for industries that depend on them—particularly defense and aerospace. Moog and Niron Magnetics are jointly seeking to address this challenge through an innovative approach that aligns with emerging priorities from the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD).
Jason Weiss, Land and Sea Systems Business Unit General Manager at Moog, emphasized that today’s rapidly shifting geopolitical landscape is forcing defense suppliers and government stakeholders to reconsider traditional material dependencies. “In an increasingly dynamic global landscape, reducing reliance on rare earth minerals strengthens supply chain resilience and enhances Moog’s ability to deliver uninterrupted support to the warfighter,” Weiss said. “By proactively addressing potential vulnerabilities, we’re not only safeguarding operational readiness but also reinforcing our commitment to innovation and national security.”
The timing of this partnership coincides with intensifying market pressures that have made supply chain diversification a strategic imperative. Rising demand for permanent magnets in consumer electronics, electric vehicles, renewable energy systems, and sophisticated weapon platforms has strained global availability of rare-earth materials. In parallel, the newly released U.S. Department of Defense Acquisition Transformation Strategy (ATS) identifies rare-earth mitigation, domestic sourcing, and the broadening of the defense industrial base as critical priorities. This strategy aims to ensure that national security-relevant supply chains are robust, innovative, and capable of scaling to meet future demand without overdependence on foreign sources.
Niron Magnetics’ work with Moog directly responds to several pillars of this DoD strategy. By focusing on domestically produced, commercially scalable magnet technologies, the collaboration demonstrates how private-sector innovation can reduce supply vulnerabilities while expanding the diversity of suppliers capable of supporting defense programs. In addition, the companies’ joint efforts highlight the potential for U.S.-based advanced manufacturing technology to play a larger role in strengthening long-term national resilience.
Paul Stoelting, Defense Division Engineering Director at Moog, noted that the ability to shorten lead times, expand domestic production capacity, and reduce exposure to global disruptions are essential considerations for mission-critical defense applications. “We are eager to demonstrate how Niron Magnetics’ magnet technology can expand domestic production, shorten lead times and de-risk our operations to ensure we can continue to equip those who defend freedom,” Stoelting said. He emphasized that Moog’s evaluation process aims not only to validate magnet performance but also to assess how the technology can be scaled and integrated across a wide range of platforms that Moog serves within the defense ecosystem.
Jonathan Rowntree, CEO of Niron Magnetics, echoed the importance of innovation and collaboration in strengthening the U.S. industrial base. “Moog and Niron Magnetics both have a proven track record of innovating solutions to meet the industry’s evolving demands,” Rowntree said. “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.”
Niron Magnetics’ Iron Nitride magnet technology has been widely recognized for its potential to disrupt the permanent magnet industry. These magnets offer a rare-earth-free alternative with the promise of strong magnetic performance, simplified manufacturing pathways, and inherent scalability. Unlike conventional rare-earth magnets, which require complex extraction and processing methods and are subject to volatile global supply chains, Iron Nitride magnets can be produced from abundant domestic raw materials. This makes them significantly more sustainable from both an environmental and an economic standpoint.
By reducing reliance on materials such as neodymium, manufacturers in the defense and critical infrastructure sectors can better insulate themselves from geopolitical tensions, resource nationalism, or export restrictions that may arise from countries controlling the majority of rare-earth production. Additionally, Iron Nitride magnets offer attractive potential for scaling into mass production environments, giving defense suppliers greater flexibility in meeting surges in demand without facing the long lead times associated with traditional magnet supply chains.
For Moog, the integration of Iron Nitride magnets represents an opportunity to explore the next generation of actuator system design. Moog’s precision motion and fluid controls are found across a broad spectrum of military and aerospace applications—including missiles, unmanned systems, advanced aircraft, naval systems, and space vehicles. These systems require robust magnetic materials that can perform under high demands, extreme conditions, and strict reliability standards. If Iron Nitride magnets prove capable of meeting Moog’s stringent performance requirements, the technology could have far-reaching implications across many of the company’s flagship defense programs.
The collaboration is also a meaningful step forward for the broader U.S. industrial community working to strengthen domestic manufacturing and reduce foreign dependency. As demand for advanced technologies continues to grow—particularly those related to electrification, autonomous systems, and precision guidance—the availability of high-performance magnets is becoming a central strategic issue. Niron Magnetics’ domestically manufactured magnet platform offers a new pathway for companies to meet performance expectations without sacrificing supply continuity or sustainability.
In addition to addressing supply chain concerns, the partnership also highlights the growing importance of environmentally responsible manufacturing practices. The rare-earth mining process traditionally involves large-scale extraction, chemical refining, and significant environmental impact. By contrast, Niron’s Iron Nitride magnet production leverages more sustainable methods and abundant materials, offering manufacturers an opportunity to meet performance goals while supporting long-term environmental stewardship.
As both companies continue testing and validating Iron Nitride magnet performance in advanced actuation systems, their collaboration has the potential to contribute meaningfully to reshaping the defense supply chain of the future. Their shared emphasis on innovation, national security, and U.S.-based manufacturing positions this partnership as a noteworthy example of how private-sector technological breakthroughs can support national policy objectives.
Ultimately, the joint effort between Niron Magnetics and Moog represents more than just a product development initiative. It is part of a broader movement across the defense and aerospace sectors to rethink material strategies, reduce exposure to critical vulnerabilities, and invest in technologies that help secure long-term operational readiness. By reimagining how core components such as magnets are sourced and integrated, the industry moves closer to a more resilient and self-reliant defense infrastructure.
Niron Magnetics’ rare-earth-free, highly scalable Iron Nitride magnet technology continues to gain attention across multiple industries, and its potential role in next-generation defense systems underscores the importance of innovation-driven partnerships. As this collaboration with Moog progresses, it may serve as a model for how advanced materials companies and precision engineering leaders can join forces to strengthen U.S. competitiveness and enhance national security in an increasingly complex world.
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