{"id":25520,"date":"2026-09-17T18:17:54","date_gmt":"2026-09-17T18:17:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/?p=25520"},"modified":"2026-09-17T18:17:54","modified_gmt":"2026-09-17T18:17:54","slug":"f-35-lightning-ii-us-advances-24-3-billion-saudi-f-35-deal-despite-concerns-over-kingdoms-china-ties","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/?p=25520","title":{"rendered":"F-35 Lightning Ii: US advances $24.3 billion Saudi F-35 deal despite concerns over kingdom&#8217;s China ties"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<div class=\"XYebw\">\n<div class=\"vdo_embedd\">\n<div class=\"IYpL4\">\n<section class=\"lIbak  clearfix id-r-component leadmedia undefined undefined  mR3IZ \" style=\"top:0px\">\n<div class=\"lIbak\" data-ua-type=\"1\" onclick=\"stpPgtnAndPrvntDefault(event)\">\n<div class=\"dV65i\">\n<div class=\"gF0tM\"><img src=\"https:\/\/static.toiimg.com\/thumb\/msid-134318795,imgsize-234960,width-400,height-225,resizemode-4\/us-saudi-arabia-f-35-deal.jpg\" alt=\"US advances $24.3 billion Saudi F-35 deal despite concerns over kingdom's China ties\" title=\"File photo: Personnel work on US Air Force F-35 Lightning II fighter jets parked on the tarmac (Picture credit: Reuters)\" decoding=\"async\" fetchpriority=\"high\"\/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"XsNYN img_cptn\"><span title=\"File photo: Personnel work on US Air Force F-35 Lightning II fighter jets parked on the tarmac (Picture credit: Reuters)\">File photo: Personnel work on US Air Force F-35 Lightning II fighter jets parked on the tarmac (Picture credit: Reuters)<\/span><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>The US State Department has approved the potential sale of Lockheed Martin\u2019s F-35 Lightning II fighter jets to <a href=\"https:\/\/timesofindia.indiatimes.com\/topic\/saudi-arabia\" styleobj=\"[object Object]\" class=\"\" commonstate=\"[object Object]\" frmappuse=\"1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Saudi Arabia<\/a> for an estimated $24.3 billion, according to a notice posted online on Thursday.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"4\"\/>The kingdom has been drawn deeper into the Middle East war as it pursues the advanced aircraft.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"6\"\/>The proposed sale puts Saudi Arabia closer to acquiring one of the world\u2019s most advanced fighter aircraft after years of seeking the F-35 from Washington.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"8\"\/>Saudi Arabia has had decades of military cooperation with the US and is the largest buyer of American weapons and defence equipment.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"10\"\/>The State Department\u2019s approval comes amid heightened scrutiny over Saudi Arabia\u2019s military and security ties with China.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"14\"\/>US intelligence officials have raised concerns that Beijing could potentially gain access to F-35 technology through espionage in Saudi Arabia or through the kingdom\u2019s military and security partnership with China, The New York Times reported.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"16\"\/><\/p>\n<p><h2><b>F-35 deal faces China-related security concerns<\/b><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"18\"\/>The projected sale of approximately $24.3 billion would include 48 military aircraft and 49 engines from Pratt &amp; Whitney, as well as communication gear, spare parts, and additional support items, according to the department.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"21\"\/>The State Department sent the package to two congressional committees in June for informal approval, as the administration moved the sale into a more advanced stage.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"23\"\/>A Pentagon Defense Intelligence Agency report circulated among government agencies and congressional offices reportedly raised concerns about Chinese military access to Saudi bases and the kingdom\u2019s use of Chinese telecommunications technology.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"26\"\/>US intelligence analysts have questioned whether secure facilities could be maintained for the F-35 technology and whether Saudi Arabia would agree to restrict access by Chinese military and intelligence personnel.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"28\"\/>The report also raised questions about the presence of equipment from Chinese technology companies Huawei and ZTE in telecommunications, router infrastructure and defence installations.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"30\"\/>The Pentagon is particularly concerned about protecting the F-35\u2019s advanced radar and surveillance technology, the newspaper reported.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"33\"\/>The US intelligence concerns are not new. Similar issues emerged during the first Trump administration over a proposed F-35 sale to the United Arab Emirates.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"35\"\/>The Biden administration later ended that sales process after reviewing concerns about the UAE\u2019s expanding military, intelligence and technology links with China, according to The New York Times.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"37\"\/><\/p>\n<p><h2><b>Saudi Arabia\u2019s military ties with China<\/b><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"39\"\/>Saudi Arabia maintains close military ties with Washington but also has defence cooperation with Beijing.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"42\"\/>Saudi Arabia buys ballistic missiles from China and that the Chinese military has helped the kingdom develop ballistic missiles, establish production facilities and improve missile operations.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"44\"\/>The newspaper also reported that Prince Mohammed has sought to strengthen Saudi Arabia\u2019s military capabilities while the kingdom has faced renewed fighting with the Houthis, an Iran-backed group in Yemen.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"46\"\/>Saudi Arabia has led a coalition fighting the Houthis since 2015. <!-- -->The conflict has intensified again, with the Houthis launching drones and missiles at Saudi targets.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"50\"\/>Saudi Arabia said on Thursday that debris from an intercepted Houthi drone killed one person and injured two others in Taif province. The Houthis have denied targeting Mecca, after Saudi Arabia said on Wednesday that it had intercepted a drone aimed at the holy city.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"52\"\/><\/p>\n<p><h2><b>Israel\u2019s military edge also a consideration<\/b><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"54\"\/>The proposed F-35 sale could also draw scrutiny over Israel\u2019s military advantage in the Middle East.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"57\"\/>Israel is currently the only country in the region operating F-35 fighter jets. US policymakers have historically sought to preserve Israel\u2019s \u201cqualitative military edge\u201d in the region, a requirement mandated by Congress.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"59\"\/>Previous US administrations have therefore subjected proposed advanced weapons sales to Arab countries in the region to detailed reviews.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"62\"\/>Saudi Arabia\u2019s potential acquisition comes alongside broader US-Saudi defence and strategic discussions. <!-- -->The Trump administration has also agreed to help the kingdom develop a civilian nuclear programme, a separate issue that has raised security concerns.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"66\"\/>The State Department said in its notice that \u201cthe proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the military balance in the region.\u201d<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"68\"\/>The State Department\u2019s approval does not itself complete the F-35 sale. The proposed package remains subject to the US arms-sales process and congressional scrutiny.<\/div>\n<p><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/timesofindia.indiatimes.com\/defence\/international\/us-advances-24-3-billion-saudi-f-35-deal-despite-concerns-over-kingdoms-china-ties\/articleshow\/134318051.cms\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>File photo: Personnel work on US Air Force F-35 Lightning II fighter jets parked on the tarmac (Picture credit: Reuters) The US State Department has approved the potential sale of Lockheed Martin\u2019s F-35 Lightning II fighter jets to Saudi Arabia for an estimated $24.3 billion, according to a notice posted online on Thursday.The kingdom has [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":25521,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[31],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-25520","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-31"],"magazineBlocksPostFeaturedMedia":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/us-saudi-arabia-f-35-deal.jpg","medium":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/us-saudi-arabia-f-35-deal.jpg","medium_large":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/us-saudi-arabia-f-35-deal.jpg","large":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/us-saudi-arabia-f-35-deal.jpg","1536x1536":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/us-saudi-arabia-f-35-deal.jpg","2048x2048":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/us-saudi-arabia-f-35-deal.jpg","blogsy-small":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/us-saudi-arabia-f-35-deal.jpg","blogsy-small-tall":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/us-saudi-arabia-f-35-deal.jpg","blogsy-small-square":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/us-saudi-arabia-f-35-deal.jpg","blogsy-small-masonry":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/us-saudi-arabia-f-35-deal.jpg","blogsy-medium":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/us-saudi-arabia-f-35-deal.jpg","blogsy-medium-masonry":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/us-saudi-arabia-f-35-deal.jpg","blogsy-large":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/us-saudi-arabia-f-35-deal.jpg","blogsy-wide":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/us-saudi-arabia-f-35-deal.jpg"},"magazineBlocksPostAuthor":{"name":"admin","avatar":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8709732a479614e7a8aa24d3eb1b239f30dc6d90c61464ed495001e7a469d856?s=96&d=mm&r=g"},"magazineBlocksPostCommentsNumber":"0","magazineBlocksPostExcerpt":"File photo: Personnel work on US Air Force F-35 Lightning II fighter jets parked on the tarmac (Picture credit: Reuters) The US State Department has approved the potential sale of Lockheed Martin\u2019s F-35 Lightning II fighter jets to Saudi Arabia for an estimated $24.3 billion, according to a notice posted online on Thursday.The kingdom has [&hellip;]","magazineBlocksPostCategories":["\u0b26\u0b47\u0b36 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