US Approves $24 Billion Sale of 48 F-35 Jets to Saudi Arabia as Congress Weighs China Risks
Updated
Updated · BBC.com · Sep 18
US Approves $24 Billion Sale of 48 F-35 Jets to Saudi Arabia as Congress Weighs China Risks
3 articles · Updated · BBC.com · Sep 18
Summary
$24 billion covers 48 Lockheed Martin F-35s for Saudi Arabia, a major US policy shift after years of resisting Riyadh's bid for the stealth fighters.
30 days now remain for Congress to review or try to block the sale, with Democratic lawmakers warning Saudi ties with China could expose sensitive F-35 technology.
The State Department said the deal supports US foreign policy and national security goals and would not alter the regional military balance.
Israel's current fleet of 50 F-35s had helped constrain earlier US policy, though Israel is moving to expand that fleet to about 100 jets.
The approval deepens Trump's defense ties with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman after a $142 billion arms agreement, while Saudi Arabia presses Washington for stronger backing against Yemen's Houthis.
Could selling the F-35 to Saudi Arabia inadvertently hand America's most guarded stealth secrets directly to Chinese intelligence?
Will this massive fighter jet deal force Riyadh to abandon its growing tech partnership with Beijing to secure American armor?
How can Washington protect Israel's regional military edge when stealth fighters operate near foreign telecommunications networks?
The $24.3 Billion F-35 Deal: U.S.-Saudi Security, Israeli Edge, and the China Espionage Dilemma
Overview
The proposed $24.3 billion sale of 48 F-35 jets to Saudi Arabia in 2026 is a direct result of the U.S.-Saudi Strategic Defense Agreement signed in 2025, which granted Riyadh priority access to advanced American military technology. This deal aims to strengthen regional deterrence and military cooperation, but faces intense scrutiny in the U.S. Congress due to legal requirements to preserve Israel’s Qualitative Military Edge and serious concerns about Chinese espionage risks linked to Saudi bases and telecom networks. If blocked, Saudi Arabia may turn to alternatives like Turkey’s KAAN fighter, signaling a shift in regional defense partnerships and U.S. influence.