Defense Metals Corp. announced that it has engaged the services of an experienced British Columbia-based diamond drill pad construction contractor to begin steep-terrain drill pad construction in anticipation of commencing its 2021 Wicheeda Rare Earth Element (REE) Deposit resource expansion and definition diamond drill program. The Company expects pad siting and construction to commence at the end of July 2021. To support these activities Defense Metals project management and surface geologic mapping teams are preparing to mobilize, and sufficient timber and rough lumber quantities have already been ordered from area mills and are scheduled to arrive on site. Defense Metals is currently advancing the road accessible Wicheeda Critical Rare Earth Element (REE) Property, which is located close to infrastructure approximately 80 kilometres northeast of Prince George, British Columbia (BC). The Wicheeda project has indicated mineral resources of 4,890,000 tonnes averaging 3.02% LREO (Light Rare Earth Elements) and inferred mineral resources of 12,100,000 tonnes averaging 2.90% LREO1. The Defense Metals technical team, subject to its own internal review, is currently in the process of finalizing drill site locations designed to build on the successes of the 2019 campaign. The 2021 Wicheeda drill program comprising a minimum of 2,000 metres and up to 5,000 metres will focus on expanding the zone REE mineralized dolomite-carbonatite to the north, in addition to further delineating existing inferred resources within the central and northwestern areas of the deposit.