U.S. defense giant Lockheed Martin is exploring partnerships with undersea mining companies to exploit its long-held seabed licences in the eastern Pacific, as the race to secure critical minerals intensifies globally. The news, first reported by the Financial Times, highlights growing efforts by Western powers to diversify mineral supply chains in response to China’s dominance in the sector.
Lockheed was granted two exploration licences in international waters by U.S. regulators in the early 1980s, at the height of a previous wave of interest in deep-sea mining. However, the company never began operations on the sites—until now.
“There is a large interest from groups involved in undersea mining,” said Frank St John, Lockheed’s chief operating officer, in an interview with the Financial Times. “We are in early stages of conversations with several companies about giving them access to our licences and allowing them to process those materials.”
While St John declined to comment on the specific value of the deposits, he noted that potential partners had “done the homework and determined there is value there,” indicating a shift in both commercial interest and market feasibility.
A Strategic Resource Race
The renewed interest in seabed resources comes amid an intensifying global contest for minerals such as cobalt, nickel, copper, and manganese—essential components in electric vehicle batteries and defense technologies. China’s control over large swaths of the supply chain has prompted a scramble among U.S. allies to find alternative sources.
The Financial Times reports that President Donald Trump had, during his term, issued an executive order asserting U.S. rights to issue mining licences in international waters and suggesting seabed metals be considered strategic stockpiles. Although a de facto ban on deep-sea mining in international waters has existed since the 1990s, recent moves by start-ups and now major defense players like Lockheed are challenging that status quo.
Legal and Environmental Uncertainties
Lockheed’s renewed activity coincides with a pivotal meeting this month of the International Seabed Authority (ISA) in Jamaica. Representatives from 169 countries and the European Union are negotiating frameworks around royalties, taxation, and environmental protection for potential deep-sea mining. The U.S., which has not ratified the UN treaty that empowers the ISA, maintains its own licensing regime through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
Despite the momentum, deep-sea mining remains controversial. Over 30 countries have called for a moratorium or outright ban on seabed mining, citing potential harm to fragile ocean ecosystems in the dark, high-pressure environments of the deep sea.
Strategic Supply Chain Moves
Lockheed’s ambitions go beyond seabed exploration. According to St John, the company is collaborating with the U.S. Department of Defense to secure raw material stockpiles and develop alternate sources. Recent efforts have resulted in alternative supply arrangements for critical materials such as germanium and titanium.
“We believe the U.S. has the opportunity to develop a gold standard for commercial recovery of nodules in an environmentally responsible manner,” Lockheed told the Financial Times, also noting its appreciation of the Trump administration’s efforts to secure critical mineral supplies.
Although it’s “early days,” Lockheed’s re-entry into deep-sea mining marks a notable shift for the industry—one that could have far-reaching implications for geopolitics, the environment, and global supply chains.
