Moog and Niron Magnetics will demonstrate their rare earth-free actuator solutions at the Association of the United States Army (AUSA) 2026 Annual Meeting and Exhibition in Washington, DC in October.
At the event, the companies plan to demonstrate their work with Niron’s iron nitride permanent magnets, which convert electrical signals into mechanical movement. The promising technology is being tested for applications in land vehicles and guided munitions, among other things.
“The Army is changing rapidly, and the systems Soldiers rely on can only move as quickly as the supply chains behind them,” Ryan Aures, technical director for Moog Land and Sea Systems, said in a news release. “Our work with Niron is about ensuring there is never a disruption between the fighter and the skills they need.”
The project builds on a collaboration between Moog and Niron announced in December 2025. Moog is testing and qualifying Niron’s iron nitride permanent magnets in electromechanical actuators that would reduce dependence on critical minerals – an innovative solution to a global problem.
Iron nitride removes rare earth elements
Almost every precision system the Army relies on contains rare earths. “Today, almost all supply comes from a single overseas source,” said Jonathan Rowntree, CEO of Niron Magnetics.
According to an October 2025 report from the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR), “China controls up to 90 percent of the world’s processing capacity for critical minerals, including more than 99 percent of the processing for three rare earths needed for heat-resistant magnets.” CFR said.
Niron claims its iron nitride technology can make permanent magnets without rare earth materials – which would eliminate the problem in a world struggling to move production on home soil.
Critical minerals are used in products ranging from smartphones and vehicles to advanced weapons systems including the F-35.
The USA wants to expand the domestic magnet supply
The U.S. government has also taken steps to expand domestic production of rare earths. According to CFR, the Defense Department acquired a 15 percent stake in U.S. rare earth producer MP Materials for $400 million in July 2025.
The Moog Niron project is taking a different approach, developing permanent magnets that do not require rare earth materials. This would be the ultimate response to the entire situation if the Army simply eliminated this need.
According to a company statement, Niron has been producing iron nitride magnets and conducting customer qualifications since 2025. The company expects to begin commercial production within the next 18 months.
Niron says its magnets are already used in applications that include artificial intelligence infrastructure, automotive products, industrial equipment and consumer electronics.
For the defense project, Moog is specifically testing and qualifying the magnets in electromechanical actuator systems.
Technology on the way to AUSA 2026
The companies will present the technology together at the Moog booth during AUSA 2026. Moog and Niron plan to introduce iron nitride magnets built into tested motor hardware. The companies said participants will also be able to speak with engineers about integration, qualification timelines and delivery availability.
Niron, meanwhile, is working to commercialize its iron nitride permanent magnets through its proprietary manufacturing platform.
