MP Materials unveiled a multibillion-dollar deal with the U.S. government on Thursday to boost output of rare earths and help loosen a stranglehold by top producer China on the minerals vital for military applications,

The Defense Department on Thursday became the largest shareholder in MP Materials, which owns the only rare earth mine in the U.S., amid a surge in demand for rare earths mined in the U.S. as China has curbed its rare earth exports amid a trade war with the U.S.

The US Department of Defense (DOD) is making a major investment in the California rare earth company MP Materials to catalyze the establishment of a US supply chain for rare earth magnets. US rare earth producers face a long road ahead, but industry observers say the DOD’s backing will be a significant push forward.