For decades, the US has gone to great lengths to protect its most sensitive military technologies from China. But Donald Trump’s unusual decision to sell the F-35, America’s most advanced fighter aircraft, to Saudi Arabia could put years of efforts to safeguard those secrets at risk. The concern stems from Saudi Arabia’s increasingly close security relationship with China.
Facing growing threats from Iran to its east and Iran-backed Houthi militants to the south, Saudi Arabia has for years wanted to acquire one of the world’s most advanced fighter jets. The F-35 features stealth capabilities designed to make it difficult to detect. Under the proposed USD 24.3 billion agreement, Riyadh would receive 48 F-35 aircraft, although the deal still needs approval from the US Congress.
The acquisition would significantly strengthen the Royal Saudi Air Force, which currently does not operate a fifth-generation stealth fighter. Its fleet includes American-made F-15s along with European Tornado and Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft.
F-35 SALE: WHY CHINA IS THE WORRY?
The possibility of Saudi Arabia gaining access to one of America’s most closely guarded fighter jets has raised concerns within the US intelligence community. According to a report by The New York Times, an internal memo by US analysts warned that China could potentially obtain F-35 technology through espionage in Saudi Arabia.
Although Saudi Arabia and the US have maintained military ties for decades, Riyadh has also expanded its defence cooperation with Beijing in recent years. This shift has developed gradually.
For many years, Saudi Arabia has remained the biggest purchaser of American weapons and defence equipment. More recently, however, Saudi leaders have begun questioning the extent of Washington’s commitment to the kingdom’s security.
Two developments are believed to have contributed to those doubts. One was the US response to Houthi drone attacks targeting Saudi Arabia in 2019, which Riyadh viewed as insufficient. Another was Israel’s attack on Qatar in May 2025, despite Qatar being a close US ally.
Riyadh has also long been frustrated by Washington’s reluctance to provide it with America’s most advanced weapons and military technologies. This created an opening for China to expand its defence partnership with Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Arabia has purchased ballistic missiles and advanced combat drones from China, which account for a significant portion of its Chinese defence acquisitions. Chinese military personnel are also assisting Riyadh in establishing missile production facilities, giving them access to Saudi military bases. In addition, Saudi Arabia uses Chinese technology in parts of its telecommunications infrastructure.
US PENTAGON RAISES CONCERNS
Given the depth of Saudi-China military cooperation, the proposed F-35 sale has triggered concerns among US intelligence and defence officials. The fear is that Riyadh could potentially provide sensitive technology to Beijing, the BBC reported.
US Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi, a Democrat, said the deal could “essentially put the crown jewels of American military technology within reach of the Chinese Communist Party.”
The Pentagon had also expressed concerns in a report earlier this year. One of its central issues was protecting the F-35’s sophisticated radar and surveillance systems.
According to The New York Times, the report recommended that access to secure facilities housing F-35 technology be restricted to Saudi and US personnel. It also urged the US administration to encourage Riyadh to restrict interactions between Chinese military or intelligence officials and personnel involved with the aircraft.
The Pentagon further flagged Saudi Arabia’s use of equipment made by Chinese technology companies Huawei and ZTE at defence facilities.
Such security concerns have been a major reason behind Washington’s reluctance to sell its most sophisticated fighter aircraft to Arab countries.
Similar issues arose during Trump’s first presidency when his administration sought to sell F-35 jets to the UAE. The proposed arrangement was linked to the UAE normalising relations with Israel. In 2020, the UAE and several other Arab countries signed the Abraham Accords, while Saudi Arabia did not join the agreements.
Trump’s latest decision to sell F-35s to Riyadh has therefore prompted speculation about whether Saudi Arabia may have reached an undisclosed understanding with Washington regarding the Abraham Accords.
During his second term, Trump has developed a close relationship with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. During Trump’s visit to Riyadh last year, the two countries signed a USD 142 billion arms agreement, which the White House described at the time as the “largest defence sales agreement in history”.
The proposed F-35 acquisition from Lockheed Martin forms part of that broader agreement.
THE ISRAEL FACTOR
The US decision to sell F-35s to Saudi Arabia is particularly significant because Israel is currently the only country in the Middle East operating the aircraft. US administrations have, by law, been required to preserve Israel’s “qualitative military edge” in the region since the 1973 Arab-Israeli War.
This principle has effectively ensured that Israel receives more advanced American weapons than other regional Arab states.
If the US-Saudi agreement is completed, Riyadh’s acquisition of the F-35 could bring its air capabilities closer to those of Israel, potentially creating concerns in Tel Aviv. Israel currently operates 50 F-35s, which have recently been deployed in strikes against Iran, while Saudi Arabia would receive 48 under the proposed agreement.
The US State Department sought to address those concerns in a statement on Friday, saying that the sale would “not alter the military balance in the region”.
The US Congress has a month to review the proposed sale and could attempt to prevent the agreement from going ahead.
However, the Trump administration has recently bypassed the congressional approval process in some cases to speed up weapons deliveries to Israel during the conflict with Iran. According to The New York Times, a similar approach could potentially be used for the Saudi fighter jet deal.
The timing of the announcement is also notable.
Washington announced the proposed sale two days after the Houthis claimed they had shot down a Saudi F-15 fighter aircraft over Marib amid their intensifying conflict with Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces.
Trump’s move is also being seen as a gesture towards Riyadh, which was reportedly unhappy with Washington’s decision not to directly intervene in its confrontation with the Iran-backed Houthis.
While the F-35 deal would significantly enhance Saudi Arabia’s air capabilities, it also presents Washington with a major security concern: whether China could gain greater access to the technology and secrets behind America’s most advanced fighter aircraft.
