US intelligence officials have reportedly raised concerns that China could attempt to obtain sensitive technology from F-35 fighter jets if the United States proceeds with a proposed sale of the aircraft to Saudi Arabia.
According to a report by The New York Times, US intelligence assessments have warned that Beijing could try to gain access to the technology through espionage in Saudi Arabia or by using its growing military and security relationship with the kingdom.
The concerns come as Washington moves ahead with a major defence deal involving Saudi Arabia. The proposed agreement is valued at around $24 billion and includes F-35 fighter jets, one of the most advanced aircraft in the US military inventory.
The issue of Chinese access to Saudi military and technological infrastructure is not new. A report from the Pentagon’s Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) last year highlighted the expanding technology relationship between China and Saudi Arabia.
The assessment reportedly noted that Chinese military personnel had access to some Saudi military facilities. It also pointed to the presence of Chinese technology in parts of Saudi Arabia’s telecommunications infrastructure.
US intelligence agencies are now examining whether those existing links could create additional risks if Saudi Arabia receives the F-35. The aircraft incorporates highly sensitive technologies, including advanced sensors, communications systems and stealth capabilities.
The latest assessment was reportedly circulated among several US government agencies and congressional offices. Lawmakers and congressional aides have also questioned administration officials about the potential security implications of the proposed sale.
The United States has been moving forward with the Saudi aircraft deal since President Donald Trump announced it in November, shortly before Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman visited the White House.
The proposed sale progressed further in June, when the US State Department sent a package covering 48 F-35 aircraft and a spare engine to two congressional committees as part of the informal review process.
The reported intelligence concerns have added another layer to the congressional scrutiny surrounding the deal. However, there has been no official public statement confirming the specific allegations about a possible Chinese attempt to obtain F-35 technology.
The concerns also have a precedent. During Trump’s first term, US officials faced similar questions over the proposed sale of F-35 aircraft to the United Arab Emirates. In 2020, the Trump administration agreed to sell the jets to the UAE as part of a broader agreement that included the establishment of diplomatic relations between the UAE and Israel.
The Saudi deal is therefore being examined not only as a major defence agreement but also in the context of Washington’s concerns about China’s expanding technological and military relationships in the Middle East.
US officials have so far not publicly detailed what additional safeguards, if any, could be required to protect sensitive F-35 technology in the event that the Saudi sale moves ahead.
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