New Delhi, June 16 -- India's military readiness during recent tensions with Pakistan highlighted the strength of its defence hardware.

However, a deeper vulnerability has come to light - India's complete dependence on imported cobalt, a critical metal used in advanced weapons systems, missiles, submarines, and radar technologies, reported ET.

Cobalt plays a vital role in defence-grade superalloys and magnetic materials. Currently, India imports almost all of its cobalt, mainly from China, which refines around 80 per cent of the world's supply.

China also controls major cobalt mines in the Democratic Republic of Congo, giving it a dominant grip on the global cobalt market. Experts warn that any supply disruption could stall India's def...