Saudi F-35 Sale Risks Exposing Fighter Technology to China
Internal U.S. assessments say Chinese access at Saudi bases and telecom networks could expose sensitive F-35 radar and surveillance systems, officials said.
- The New York Times reported yesterday that intelligence officials warned a proposed $24 billion F-35 sale to Saudi Arabia could grant China access to sensitive American military technology.
- President Donald Trump signaled support for the sale in November 2025, though the Defense Intelligence Agency raised general concerns about the arrangement during an assessment in the fall of 2025.
- Intelligence reports specifically cite risks involving Chinese companies Huawei and ZTE, while Saudi Arabia has developed defense ties with Beijing that could enable espionage regarding F-35 advanced radar systems.
- The State Department submitted the proposed package of 48 fighters in June 2026, prompting some lawmakers to press the administration for answers amid concerns about Israel's regional military advantage.
- Similar intelligence warnings previously stalled an F-35 sale to the United Arab Emirates, highlighting the ongoing challenge of protecting American military technology from potential Chinese espionage.
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In the US: Riyadh must remove Huawei equipment to prevent F-35 data from going to China
US intelligence agencies are warning that the proposed $24 billion sale of F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia could create a risk of China gaining access to sensitive US military technology.The New York Times reported this, citing unnamed...
US intelligence agencies warn that the proposed sale of $24 billion worth of F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia could risk China gaining access to sensitive US military technologies. This is reported by The New York Times, citing unnamed people
Of particular concern is the advanced radar and intelligence systems of the fighter aircraft that China can access.
U.S. Intelligence Warns China Could Steal F-35 Secrets
“U.S. intelligence officers have expressed concerns in internal reports about possible Chinese espionage related to a pending sale of dozens of advanced F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia valued at $24 billion,” the New York Times reports. “Intelligence analysts have raised the possibility that China could acquire F-35 jet technology through spying in Saudi Arabia […]
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