A new report from Altana, which specializes in supply chain analysis, quantifies the degree to which the US commercial space industry is dependent on components, provided by Chinese suppliers. This is due to increasingly strong pressure on space companies, which are required to reduce dependence on foreign suppliers, recognized by the Pentagon as a security threat.
20 May 2026 Altana released the analysis, in which it is stated, what with 2022 year over 849 000 of imported supplies for commercial space were influenced by Chinese suppliers at the third level of the supply chain or higher. I will 15 000 of imported supplies contained components of Russian origin in their value chains. The report also found, what 26,8% import, related to semiconductors for the commercial space sector, had a direct or close to upper level dependence on Taiwanese manufacturers.
These findings appear against the background of, that the sustainability of supply chains has become a major challenge for the entire US space industry, especially considering that, that the Pentagon is increasingly relying on commercial satellite operators, launch vehicle companies and other private suppliers for national security programs.
Altana analyzed supply chains for the report, related to 299 by American commercial space contractors, subcontractors and main suppliers, by examining import operations and upstream supplier relationships, starting with 2022 year. The company noted, that the analysis was based on, which she describes as “risk signals, discovered AI". The report also states, that vulnerabilities are concentrated in specialized components, which are difficult to replace, in particular, radiation-resistant semiconductors for satellites and spacecraft, space-grade rubber seals and coatings, as well as structural metal components, such as aluminum piping, fasteners and rivets.
At the same time, the report highlights dependence on Taiwan in the production of advanced semiconductors as a particular vulnerability. According to Altana, many radiation resistant chips, used in spacecraft control systems, scientific instruments and satellite communication, manufactured in Taiwanese factories. Conflict, associated with Taiwan, could disrupt space semiconductor production, which are difficult to replace, as they require specialized manufacturing processes, large-scale testing and multi-year certification cycles. Altana notes, that some defense agencies are using supply chain mapping tools and wargaming to simulate disruptions, which may arise in the event of a Chinese invasion of Taiwan.
Source: https://spacenews.com