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The Saudi F-35 Purchase and the DIA Leak
(Substack) Stephen Bryen - Saudi Arabia has requested to buy 48 stealth F-35 fifth generation jets. The Saudis have been watching Israel's use of F-35s in Syria, Yemen and Iran. However, a classified report by the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency has raised a red flag on the deal, fearing that key technology in the F-35 and operational information will leak to China. The proposed sale has caused concern in Israel. Israel is the only F-35 operator in the Middle East, with a current fleet of 45 F-35I jets and plans to increase that number. In Israel's view, Saudi acquisition of the jets threatens to change the regional balance of power. Israel is also concerned that the U.S. might agree to sell the same jets to Turkey, which is openly hostile to Israel. There has been security cooperation between Israel and Saudi Arabia, some of it brokered through U.S. CENTCOM. The Saudis have used their radars and air defenses to help Israel confront a heavy Iranian missile and drone attack. The Saudis have probably cooperated with Israel against Yemen's Houthis, which the Saudis see as a threat to the Saudi-friendly government of Yemen and to Saudi Arabia. The writer is a former U.S. Deputy Undersecretary of Defense.