Its decision to abandon metal-bashing and concentrate on communications, radar and electronic warfare has been rewarded this year with a 40% jump in the share price.

ECONOMIST: European aerospace

Rare earth elements are also used for military applications, such as advanced optics technologies, radar and radiation detection equipment, and advanced communications systems, according to a 2011 research report by the US Government Accountability Office.

BBC: US to build $120m rare earth research institute

The communications equipment includes mobile and satellite phones and radar equipment.

BBC: Syria conflict: UK to give extra ?5m to opposition groups

The truly important communications, entirely off the media's radar, were between the Pentagon and Egypt's military, urging restraint while also trying to understand the shifting dynamics on Egypt's streets and behind closed doors, where the key political negotiations were taking place.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: How to make Egypt safe for democracy

Rockwell will be producing the backbone communications, cockpit displays, pilot controls, weather radar and collision-avoidance systems for an estimated 1, 775 Dreamliners.

FORBES: Magazine Article

On Day 44 of the trek, both a radar device meant to measure the ice thickness and a satellite communications unit to relay the data are still not working - despite being brought back to the UK for repairs and then delivered to the team last week.

BBC: Arctic team gives up on ice radar

And a military radar antenna is the key piece of kit in a system to bring broadband communications to passengers in commercial jets.

ECONOMIST: America's defence companies are turning dual-purpose