USA Rare Earth Announces Joint Development Agreement with ePropelled for Supply of Neo Magnets for Drone Technology
USA Rare Earth (NASDAQ:USAR) has entered into a joint development agreement with ePropelled, Inc. to supply sintered neo magnets for drone technology. The agreement focuses on developing magnets for ePropelled's motors, controllers, generators, and power management systems used in uncrewed air, land, and sea vehicles.
USAR will begin prototyping neo magnets at its Stillwater manufacturing facility, targeting 2026 pipeline fulfillment. ePropelled serves aerospace, defense, industrial automation, and maritime industries, specializing in applications like surveillance drones, robotic ground vehicles, and autonomous marine vessels. The partnership aims to establish a Made-in-USA supply chain for high-performance magnets compliant with international defense standards.
USA Rare Earth (NASDAQ:USAR) ha stipulato un accordo di sviluppo congiunto con ePropelled, Inc. per la fornitura di magneti al neodimio sinterizzati destinati alla tecnologia dei droni. L'accordo si concentra sullo sviluppo di magneti per i motori, i controller, i generatori e i sistemi di gestione dell'energia di ePropelled, utilizzati in veicoli senza pilota per aria, terra e mare.
USAR inizierà la prototipazione dei magneti al neodimio presso il suo stabilimento produttivo di Stillwater, con l'obiettivo di soddisfare la pipeline del 2026. ePropelled opera nei settori aerospaziale, della difesa, dell'automazione industriale e marittimo, specializzandosi in applicazioni come droni per sorveglianza, veicoli terrestri robotici e imbarcazioni autonome. La partnership punta a creare una catena di approvvigionamento Made-in-USA per magneti ad alte prestazioni conformi agli standard internazionali della difesa.
USA Rare Earth (NASDAQ:USAR) ha firmado un acuerdo de desarrollo conjunto con ePropelled, Inc. para suministrar imanes de neodimio sinterizados para tecnología de drones. El acuerdo se centra en desarrollar imanes para los motores, controladores, generadores y sistemas de gestión de energía de ePropelled, utilizados en vehículos no tripulados aéreos, terrestres y marítimos.
USAR comenzará la creación de prototipos de imanes de neodimio en su planta de fabricación en Stillwater, con el objetivo de cumplir con la cartera de pedidos para 2026. ePropelled atiende a las industrias aeroespacial, defensa, automatización industrial y marítima, especializándose en aplicaciones como drones de vigilancia, vehículos terrestres robóticos y embarcaciones marinas autónomas. La asociación busca establecer una cadena de suministro Made-in-USA para imanes de alto rendimiento que cumplan con los estándares internacionales de defensa.
USA Rare Earth (NASDAQ:USAR)는 ePropelled, Inc.와 무인 항공기 기술용 소결 네오디뮴 자석 공급을 위한 공동 개발 계약을 체결했습니다. 이 계약은 무인 항공, 지상 및 해상 차량에 사용되는 ePropelled의 모터, 컨트롤러, 발전기 및 전력 관리 시스템용 자석 개발에 중점을 둡니다.
USAR는 2026년 파이프라인 이행을 목표로 Stillwater 제조 시설에서 네오디뮴 자석 프로토타입 제작을 시작할 예정입니다. ePropelled는 항공우주, 방위, 산업 자동화 및 해양 산업에 서비스를 제공하며, 감시 드론, 로봇 지상 차량 및 자율 해양 선박과 같은 응용 분야를 전문으로 합니다. 이번 파트너십은 국제 방위 기준을 준수하는 고성능 자석의 미국산 공급망 구축을 목표로 합니다.
USA Rare Earth (NASDAQ:USAR) a conclu un accord de développement conjoint avec ePropelled, Inc. pour fournir des aimants néodymes frittés destinés à la technologie des drones. Cet accord vise à développer des aimants pour les moteurs, contrôleurs, générateurs et systèmes de gestion d'énergie d'ePropelled, utilisés dans des véhicules sans pilote aériens, terrestres et marins.
USAR commencera la réalisation de prototypes d'aimants néodymes dans son usine de production à Stillwater, avec pour objectif de répondre au pipeline de 2026. ePropelled dessert les industries aérospatiale, de la défense, de l'automatisation industrielle et maritime, en se spécialisant dans des applications telles que les drones de surveillance, les véhicules terrestres robotiques et les navires autonomes. Ce partenariat vise à établir une chaîne d'approvisionnement Made-in-USA pour des aimants haute performance conformes aux normes internationales de défense.
USA Rare Earth (NASDAQ:USAR) hat eine gemeinsame Entwicklungsvereinbarung mit ePropelled, Inc. zur Lieferung von gesinterten Neodym-Magneten für Drohnentechnologie geschlossen. Die Vereinbarung konzentriert sich auf die Entwicklung von Magneten für ePropelleds Motoren, Steuerungen, Generatoren und Energiemanagementsysteme, die in unbemannten Luft-, Land- und Wasserfahrzeugen verwendet werden.
USAR wird mit der Prototypenfertigung von Neodym-Magneten in seiner Produktionsstätte in Stillwater beginnen, mit dem Ziel, die Pipeline für 2026 zu erfüllen. ePropelled bedient die Luftfahrt-, Verteidigungs-, Industrieautomatisierungs- und Schifffahrtsbranche und ist auf Anwendungen wie Überwachungsdrohnen, robotische Bodenfahrzeuge und autonome Marinefahrzeuge spezialisiert. Die Partnerschaft zielt darauf ab, eine Made-in-USA-Lieferkette für Hochleistungsmagnete zu etablieren, die internationalen Verteidigungsstandards entsprechen.
- Strategic partnership securing domestic supply chain for critical rare earth magnets
- Expansion into defense and aerospace markets through ePropelled's established customer base
- Agreement contributes to USAR's 2026 pipeline development
- Compliance with NDAA and international defense standards enhances market opportunities
- Manufacturing facility still in commissioning phase, not yet fully operational
- Initial phase limited to prototyping, with no immediate revenue impact
Insights
USAR's partnership with ePropelled secures customer pipeline for 2026, strengthening domestic rare earth magnet supply chain for critical drone technologies.
This joint development agreement (JDA) represents a strategic customer acquisition for USA Rare Earth as the company prepares to commission its Stillwater manufacturing facility. By partnering with ePropelled, USAR gains a pathway into the high-growth uncrewed vehicle market across aerospace, defense, and maritime applications - all sectors requiring high-performance magnets for their electric propulsion systems.
The agreement positions USAR to begin immediate prototype development of sintered neo magnets specifically engineered for ePropelled's motors, controllers, and power management systems. This early-stage collaboration is particularly valuable as it allows USAR to align its manufacturing capabilities with precise customer specifications before full-scale production.
For context, neodymium magnets (neo magnets) are the most powerful permanent magnets commercially available, providing exceptional magnetic field strength despite their relatively small size and weight - critical properties for drone applications where power-to-weight ratios are paramount. Currently, China dominates global production of these materials at approximately 90% of worldwide capacity.
The domestic manufacturing aspect is especially significant given ePropelled's compliance with international defense standards and focus on domestically manufactured components for defense applications. The "Made-in-USA" designation mentioned specifically addresses growing concerns about supply chain security for critical minerals and aligns with recent legislative efforts to reduce dependency on foreign-sourced rare earth materials, particularly from China.
While financial terms weren't disclosed, this agreement helps USAR establish its 2026 sales pipeline during the critical facility commissioning phase, potentially reducing ramp-up risks and providing validation of product market fit in an expanding sector.
Oklahoma Manufacturing Plant Will Produce Lightweight, Powerful Magnets Needed for Production of Uncrewed Air, Land and Sea Vehicles
STILLWATER, Okla., Aug. 05, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- USA Rare Earth, Inc. (Nasdaq: USAR) (USAR or the Company), today announced that it has signed a joint development agreement (JDA) with ePropelled, Inc. to develop a strategic supply and purchase relationship of the Company’s sintered neo magnets for use in ePropelled’s state-of-the-art motors, which are used in a multitude of uncrewed air, land, and sea vehicles (commonly referred to as drones).
USAR will immediately begin prototyping neo magnets for use in ePropelled’s high-performance motors, controllers, generators, and power management systems. ePropelled’s systems are used in uncrewed vehicles (UAV) for air, land, and sea – from large-payload aerial drones and long-range defense applications, as well as for small surveillance and commercial drone designs.
“This agreement is another milestone in our efforts to fill our 2026 pipeline and work through the development and qualification process with customers across industries as we complete the commissioning of our Stillwater manufacturing facility,” said Joshua Ballard, CEO of USA Rare Earth. “We are very pleased to partner with such an innovative company as ePropelled, a global leader in magnetics engineering and a proven pioneer in the design and production of electric propulsion solutions. We look forward to working with the ePropelled team to develop a true partnership in providing Made-in-the-USA designated high-quality, high-performance magnets for use in their pioneering and innovative solutions.”
“We’re thrilled to partner with USA Rare Earth to secure the rare earth materials essential to our uncrewed vehicle solutions,” said Nick Grewal, ePropelled’s Founder, Chairman and CEO. “Expanding our supply chain — both in the U.S. and globally — is key to meeting the high expectations of our customers and staying ahead in this fast-moving industry.”
Operating worldwide, ePropelled serves a broad customer base that spans aerospace, defense, industrial automation, and maritime industries. The company’s technologies are used in mission-critical applications including long-endurance surveillance drones, robotic ground vehicles, and autonomous marine vessels. Its compliance with international defense standards (e.g. NDAA) and focus on domestically manufactured components make it especially attractive to governments and OEMs seeking secure, export-ready solutions.
For more information, please visit USARE.com and connect with us on LinkedIn and X.
About USA Rare Earth
USA Rare Earth is building a vertically integrated, domestic rare earth magnet production supply chain. USAR is currently constructing a 310k square foot rare earth sintered neo magnet manufacturing facility in Stillwater, Oklahoma. USAR also controls mining rights to the Round Top Mountain rare earth and critical minerals deposit in West Texas, which holds significant deposits of heavy rare earths, such as dysprosium and terbium, as well as gallium, beryllium, lithium and other critical tech minerals. USAR’s permanent neo magnets and rare earth minerals are required for a wide variety of products used in the defense, automotive, aviation, industrial, medical, and consumer electronics industries.
About ePropelled
Based in Laconia, New Hampshire, USA, ePropelled, Inc. is a leading global technology provider specializing in smart propulsion and energy management systems for uncrewed vehicles for air, land and sea. Founded in 2018, ePropelled holds 49 patents and serves customers worldwide from its New Hampshire headquarters and manufacturing center, supported by R&D and operations facilities in the UK and India. ePropelled products are engineered to optimize performance, reduce energy consumption, and support the speedy transition to a sustainable future. For more information, contact ePropelled at info@epropelled.com, call 603-236-7444, or visit ePropelled.com.
Investor Relations Contact:
Lionel McBee
VP, Investor Relations
IR@usare.com
Media Relations Contact:
Cricket PR
Brian Hyland
brian@cricketpr.com
ePropelled Media Contact:
Cookson Communications
Kristen Lestock
kristen@cooskoncom.com
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/a0ed2c46-b1bf-46df-bc3e-728c42f85d63
FAQ
What is the purpose of USA Rare Earth's joint development agreement with ePropelled?
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