WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
- The State Department approved a potential $24.3 billion sale of 48 F-35 fighters and 49 Pratt & Whitney engines to Saudi Arabia.
- The proposed transaction still requires congressional approval and could face scrutiny from lawmakers wary of closer military cooperation with Riyadh.
- Saudi Arabia directly appealed to President Donald Trump for the fighters in early 2025.
- The sale could test Washington’s policy of preserving Israel’s “qualitative military edge” in the Middle East.
The U.S. Department of State approved the potential sale of Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II fighter jets to Saudi Arabia on Thursday.
The decision comes as the kingdom is drawn deeper into war in the Middle East.
The estimated $24.3 billion sale would mark a significant shift in U.S. policy and could alter the region’s military balance.
It would also test how Washington defines and maintains Israel’s “qualitative military edge.”
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Saudi Arabia appealed directly to President Donald Trump for the aircraft in early 2025.
The kingdom has long been interested in acquiring the advanced Lockheed Martin fighter as part of its military modernization plans.
The proposed package includes 48 F-35 aircraft and 49 Pratt & Whitney engines, according to the State Department.
Communications equipment, spare parts and other support items would also be included in the potential transaction.
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The sale has not crossed the finish line yet, since it still requires congressional approval.
Lawmakers could subject the package to substantial scrutiny before Saudi Arabia receives any of the aircraft or accompanying equipment.
Washington evaluates weapons sales in the Middle East with Israel’s military advantage in mind.
That policy effectively guarantees that Israel receives more advanced American weapons than Arab states elsewhere in the region.
The Saudi embassy in Washington welcomed the proposed transaction and portrayed it as another step in military cooperation between the countries.
The response highlighted Riyadh’s enthusiasm for strengthening its longstanding security relationship with Washington.
“The proposed F-35 sale reflects the strength and enduring nature of the Saudi-U.S. strategic partnership and the continued advancement of our defense cooperation,” the embassy said on X.
The F-35 incorporates stealth technology designed to help the aircraft evade enemy detection and is considered the world’s most advanced fighter jet.
Israel has operated the aircraft for a decade, has built multiple squadrons and remains the only Middle Eastern country possessing the system.
Saudi Arabia, the largest customer for U.S. arms, has pursued the fighter for years while seeking to modernize its air force and counter regional threats, particularly Iran. Its renewed request would provide enough aircraft for two squadrons.
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The Saudi Air Force currently operates several types of fighter aircraft, including Boeing F-15s, European Tornados and Typhoons.
The Trump administration, meanwhile, has signaled that it is open to deepening military cooperation with Riyadh.
The F-35 proposal has also been connected to broader diplomatic initiatives involving Saudi Arabia and Israel.
Former President Joe Biden’s administration previously considered providing the fighters through a larger agreement that included Riyadh normalizing relations with Israel, but those efforts stalled.
Trump has made arms sales to Saudi Arabia a priority since returning to office.
In 2025, the United States agreed to sell the kingdom an arms package valued at nearly $142 billion, which the White House called “the largest defense cooperation agreement” Washington has ever done.
Congressional opposition could still complicate the proposed F-35 sale. Lawmakers previously questioned weapons transactions with Riyadh following the 2018 murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, and some members of Congress remain wary of closer military cooperation with the kingdom.
Saudi Arabia is pursuing major economic and military modernization efforts under Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s Vision 2030 agenda.
The kingdom has worked to diversify its military partnerships while preserving the security relationship with Washington that it has maintained for decades.
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