---
title: "US sounds the alarm: $24 billion F-35 deal with Saudi Arabia risks giving China access to secret technologies"
description: "US intelligence is concerned about the possible transfer of 48 F-35 fighters to Saudi Arabia for around $24 billion: the US fears a technology leak to China. The deal is already at an advanced stage of clearance."
date: 2026-09-17T00:22:11.000Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/us-f35-saudi-arabia-china-tech-leak-alarm
tags: [f-35, saudi-arabia, china, us-intelligence, arms-sales, middle-east]
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# US sounds the alarm: $24 billion F-35 deal with Saudi Arabia risks giving China access to secret technologies

![F-35 fighter jet in flight surrounded by a condensation cloud — the subject of a $24 billion deal with Saudi Arabia that alarms the US](https://xab.info/media/2026/09/17/ssha-f35-saudovskaya-araviya-kitay-utechka-tehnologiy/ssha-f35-saudovskaya-araviya-kitay-utechka-tehnologiy-1.webp)

## 🎯 Key Points

- The US fears that China will gain access to F-35 technologies through Saudi Arabia.
- The deal is valued at ~$24 billion and includes 48 fighters and a spare engine; in June the State Department sent the proposal to Congress.
- Intelligence is demanding restricted access to technology storage facilities and consideration of removing Huawei and ZTE equipment.
- Israel, the only F-35 operator in the Middle East, also expresses concern over the "qualitative edge" principle.
- There is a precedent: the UAE deal under Trump was canceled by the Biden administration before delivery.

US intelligence agencies have expressed concern over the possible transfer of dozens of fifth-generation F-35 fighters to Saudi Arabia. According to The New York Times, as cited by RBC-Ukraine, Washington fears that China could gain access to the aircraft's technologies through espionage or through Riyadh's military-technical cooperation with Beijing. The potential deal is valued at approximately $24 billion, and dozens of fighters would in that case fall outside direct US control.

### Intelligence sounds the alarm: risk of technology leaks

In an intelligence document, the contents of which were reported by NYT sources, a direct question is posed: can the United States and Saudi Arabia guarantee adequate protection of the facilities where F-35 technologies will be stored. American military officials are particularly concerned about the fighter's advanced radar and reconnaissance systems. The report emphasizes that access to the relevant facilities should be granted only to US and Saudi military personnel, as well as authorized contractors. Analysts also raised the question of whether Riyadh would agree to limit contacts with Chinese military and intelligence structures.

### The Chinese factor: Huawei, ZTE, and telecom infrastructure

A separate source of concern is the presence of Chinese telecommunications equipment on Saudi Arabian territory. The intelligence report raises the question of whether equipment from Huawei and ZTE can be removed from the telecommunications and router infrastructure, as well as from certain defense facilities. US-side concerns stem from the possibility that Chinese technologies could create additional opportunities for Beijing to access information or systems linked to the F-35.

### $24 billion and 48 fighters: what stage is the deal at

The sale of fighters to Saudi Arabia, according to available data, is at a more advanced stage than before. In June, the US State Department transmitted to two Congressional committees a proposal to sell 48 F-35 aircraft and a spare engine for informal clearance. Earlier, as RBC-Ukraine reported, the State Department gave the "green light" to defense contracts for Saudi Arabia and the UAE, and President Trump stated that he plans to approve the sale of US-made F-35 fighters to Riyadh. By estimates, such a deal could mark a significant shift in US policy and affect the military balance in the Middle East.

### Israel and the principle of "qualitative military edge"

Separate concerns about the agreement have also been voiced by Israeli representatives. Israel is the only Middle Eastern state operating the F-35, notably using them during strikes on Iran. US arms sales policy to regional countries has traditionally taken into account the need to preserve Israel's so-called "qualitative military edge," and the mass transfer of F-35s to a third player in the region could call this principle into question.

### Contradictory data

The available sources show a discrepancy between the stage of the deal and the level of alarm surrounding it. On the one hand, the process has formally advanced: in June the State Department already sent Congress a proposal for 48 fighters and a spare engine, and the Trump administration states its intention to approve the sale. On the other hand, intelligence structures and part of the military openly express doubts, and a number of outlets (in particular, the Azerbaijani Vesti.az) characterize the $24 billion deal as "in question." Thus, one side (the State Department, the president) demonstrates readiness to conclude the contract, while intelligence and allies (Israel) point to unresolved risks of technology leaks and disruption of the balance of power. There is no evidence in open sources at present of a final decision on the deal.

### The UAE precedent and background

This is not the first time US intelligence structures have expressed concern over a possible sale of F-35s to a Middle Eastern state developing ties with China. During Trump's first presidential term, the US agreed to sell F-35s to the United Arab Emirates as part of agreements on normalizing relations with Israel. At that time, intelligence officials also drew attention to the strengthening of the UAE's military, intelligence, and technological ties with China. In the end, the Joe Biden administration reviewed the agreement before production and delivery of the aircraft began, after which the sales process was terminated. This precedent strengthens the arguments of those calling for caution in the Saudi case as well.

## 🔍 Fact-Check Verification

- [US fears China will obtain F-35 technologies after aircraft sales to Saudi Arabia](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/ssha-poboyuyutsya-shcho-kitay-otrimae-tehnologiyi-1789604291.html) - Основной источник: пересказ NYT о разведывательных опасениях, оценке $24 млрд, 48 F-35, июньском обращении Госдепа в Конгресс, Huawei/ZTE и прецеденте ОАЭ.
- [$24 billion deal in question — US fears F-35 technology leak](https://vesti.az/v-mire/sdelka-na-24-mlrd-pod-voprosom-ssa-opasayutsya-utecki-texnologii-f-35-615778) - Подтверждает оценку $24 млрд и формулировку «сделка под вопросом», что использовано в разделе о противоречиях.
- [US concerned over F-35 aircraft sales to Saudi Arabia - media](https://korrespondent.net/world/4912395-ssha-obespokoeny-prodazhei-samoletov-F-35-saudovskoi-aravyy-smy) - Независимое подтверждение темы обеспокоенности США продажей F-35 Саудовской Аравии по данным СМИ.
- [Alarm in the US: China will reach F-35 secret technologies through Saudis](https://www.vesty.co.il/main/article/bkzj0zytgl) - Подтверждает ракурс риска утечки секретных технологий F-35 в Китай через Саудовскую Аравию.

## ❓ FAQ

### Q: What amount and number of aircraft are we talking about?
**A:** According to NYT, the value of the potential agreement is estimated at approximately $24 billion. In June, the State Department transmitted to Congress a proposal to sell 48 F-35 fighters and a spare engine.

### Q: What exactly are the US concerned about?
**A:** Washington fears that China could gain access to F-35 technologies (primarily radar and reconnaissance systems) through espionage or through Riyadh's military-technical cooperation with Beijing, as well as through Chinese telecom equipment from Huawei and ZTE on Saudi Arabian territory.

### Q: Is the deal completed?
**A:** No. The deal is at the clearance stage: the State Department has sent the proposal to Congress, the Trump administration states its intention to approve the sale, however intelligence and some allies (including Israel) express concern, and a number of outlets characterize the deal as "in question."

### Q: Have there been similar cases before?
**A:** Yes. During Trump's first presidential term, the US agreed to sell F-35s to the UAE, but the Biden administration reviewed and terminated that deal before production and delivery began, partly due to the strengthening of UAE ties with China.