U.S. policy aims to preserve Israel's qualitative military advantage (QMA) over its neighbors, and that objective is a major factor in decisions about exporting advanced weapons systems to other countries.
November 17, 2025
high
policy
QMA is a longstanding U.S. policy principle used when evaluating potential arms sales to regional partners.
A recurring national-security concern in deliberations over exporting F-35s is the risk that the aircraft's sensitive technology could be stolen or otherwise transferred to third countries such as China, especially when potential buyers maintain close ties with those third countries.
November 17, 2025
high
risk
Technology proliferation and third-party transfer risks are commonly cited reasons for restricting exports of advanced military platforms.