Defense Metals Announces Inclusion in New Sprott Rare Earths Ex-China ETF

Press Release

Vancouver, British Columbia – April 16, 2026: Defense Metals Corp. (“Defense Metals” or the “Company”) (TSX-V: DEFN / OTCQB:DFMTF / FSE:35D), a company focused on the development of the Wicheeda Rare Earth Project (“Wicheeda Project”), located near Prince George, British Columbia, Canada, is pleased to announce that it has been included in the newly launched Sprott Rare Earth Ex-China ETF (“ETF” or “REXC”), the only ETF providing focused exposure to rare earths companies outside of China.

“We are very pleased to have met the requirements for inclusion in the new Sprott Rare Earth Ex-China ETF, representing validation of our success in advancing our Wicheeda (“REE”) Project in British Columbia,” commented Mark Tory, Defense Metals’ President and CEO. “Inclusion in this new ETF has the potential to attract additional institutional investment into Defense Metals and increase liquidity, as the ETF is expected to be an important benchmark for investors focused on this critical materials segment of the market.”

The Sprott Rare Earths Ex-China ETF is designed to track the performance of global companies engaged in the mining, separation, refining and production of rare earth elements, while excluding companies domiciled in or primarily operating in China.

About Defense Metals Corp. and the Wicheeda Rare Earth Element Project

Defense Metals Corp. is an advanced rare earth elements (“REE”) exploration and development company focused on delivering strategically critical metals to Western defense, high-technology, and clean energy supply chains. The Company’s primary asset is its 100%-owned Wicheeda Rare Earth Element Project, located near Prince George, British Columbia, Canada.

The Wicheeda Project is one of the most advanced undeveloped rare earth deposits in North America or Europe, featuring a robust mineral resource and mining reserve, as detailed in the Company’s 2025 Pre Feasibility Study (“PFS”) (refer to Company News Release April 7 th, 2025) prepared in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. The PFS, showed the economic potential of the deposit, supporting future project development.

Defense Metals is committed to advancing the Wicheeda Project through the Feasibility Study stage, permitting, and ultimately into production, positioning the Company to become a reliable supplier of critical rare earths that are essential to modern defence systems, advanced manufacturing, and energy-efficient technologies.

The PFS for the Wicheeda Rare Earth Element Project is preliminary in nature and includes numerous assumptions regarding metallurgy, capital and operating costs, and market conditions.

Mineral reserves and the economic outcomes projected in the PFS are subject to significant uncertainties, and there is no certainty that the results of the PFS will be realized. Additional studies, including a Definitive Feasibility Study (“DFS”) and permitting work, are required before a production decision can be made.

For further information, please visit www.defensemetals.com or contact:

Ali Mahdavi
SVP Corporate Development
Email: am@spinnakercmi.com
+1.416.962.3300

Mark Tory
President and CEO
Email: mark@defensemetals.com

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