Hindustan Times ·
China to try and steal F-35 tech amid pending Saudi deal? Report says US intel issued warning
Ahead of the pending sale of F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia, analysts warned of a possibility that China could attempt to obtain the technology by spying.
US intelligence officers have reportedly warned that China could try to steal F-35 fighter jet technology as the United States plans a $24-billion deal with Saudi Arabia.
According to a New York Times report, US intelligence officers have raised concerns over China's espionage bid in internal reports. Ahead of the pending sale of F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia, intelligence analysts have warned of a possibility that China could attempt to obtain the technology by spying in Saudi Arabia or use its military and security partnership with the kingdom to acquire it.
The concerns over threat of Chinese espionage are not new. Last year in November, a report by the Pentagon’s Defense Intelligence Agency highlighted the exchange of technology between China and Saudi Arabia.
The report spoke about the access Chinese military had to Saudi bases, while also highlighting the use of Chinese technology in Saudi Arabia' telecommunications infrastructure, the New York Times had reported, citing an official.
The report has been shared with multiple agencies across the administration as well as congressional offices, alongside analyses produced by other intelligence organisations. The Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) had previously released a broader assessment in 2025 addressing similar risks, at a time when the administration was considering the proposed arms sales.
