US clears way for $24.3b fighter jet sale to Saudi Arabia
Washington Moves Toward Major F-35 Package for Saudi Arabia
Bdbusinessdaily.com – The United States has approved a possible multibillion-dollar sale of F-35 Lightning II fighter aircraft to Saudi Arabia, opening the door to one of the most consequential proposed arms transfers in the Middle East in recent years. The package, estimated at $24.3 billion, would require congressional approval before it could proceed.
The State Department said on 17 September that the proposal covers 48 Lockheed Martin F-35 aircraft, enough to equip two squadrons. It would also include 49 Pratt & Whitney engines, communications systems, spare parts, and a range of training, support, and related equipment needed to operate the advanced aircraft.
If finalized, the agreement would represent an important shift in US policy toward Riyadh. Saudi Arabia has sought the fighter for years as part of its broader effort to update its air force and address security threats in the region, particularly those connected to Iran. The kingdom is already the largest foreign customer for US weapons.
A Test for Israel’s Military Advantage
The proposed transfer raises a central question in US Middle East policy: how Washington will protect Israel’s “qualitative military edge.” Under that longstanding approach, the US assesses regional weapons sales to ensure Israel retains access to more capable military technology than neighboring Arab states.
Israel has operated the F-35 for about a decade and has developed several squadrons around the aircraft. It remains the only Middle Eastern country currently fielding the jet. Saudi acquisition of the same platform could alter regional military calculations and intensify discussion over the type of capabilities Israel would need to preserve its technological advantage.
The F-35 is widely regarded as the most advanced fighter in service. Its stealth design is intended to make it more difficult for enemy radar systems to detect, while its sensors, communications capabilities, and onboard systems are designed to give pilots a more complete view of the battlefield. Those qualities make the aircraft considerably more significant than a conventional fighter purchase.
Saudi Arabia’s air force already operates a varied fleet that includes Boeing F-15s as well as European-built Tornado and Typhoon aircraft. Adding F-35s would introduce a new generation of combat capability to that mix, but it would also require substantial long-term logistical, maintenance, training, and operational support.
Riyadh Welcomes the Proposal
The Saudi embassy in Washington described the potential sale as evidence of an expanding security relationship between the two countries. In a statement posted on X, the embassy emphasized the strategic nature of the partnership.
The proposed F-35 sale reflects the strength and enduring nature of the Saudi-US strategic partnership and the continued advancement of our defense cooperation.
Saudi Arabia has pursued ambitious economic and military changes under Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s Vision 2030 program. Alongside efforts to diversify the national economy, the kingdom has sought to strengthen domestic capabilities and modernize its armed forces. It has also worked to broaden defense relationships while maintaining the security partnership with Washington that has shaped Saudi strategy for decades.
The renewed F-35 push came after a direct appeal for the aircraft was made to the US president in early 2025. The Trump administration has signaled a willingness to deepen defense cooperation with Riyadh, making arms sales a prominent part of its approach to relations with the kingdom.
Part of a Wider US-Saudi Defense Relationship
The proposed F-35 transaction follows a much larger defense package agreed in 2025. The United States approved arms sales to Saudi Arabia valued at nearly $142 billion, an arrangement the White House described as the largest defense cooperation agreement ever undertaken by Washington.
That scale reflects the importance both governments place on their military relationship. For Saudi Arabia, US equipment, training, and support remain central to its defense posture. For Washington, arms cooperation is one element of a wider strategic relationship involving regional stability, deterrence, energy interests, and the security architecture of the Gulf.
At the same time, the F-35 proposal arrives while Saudi Arabia is increasingly drawn into a volatile regional security environment. The aircraft’s potential introduction would be watched closely not only by Israel, but also by Iran and other governments assessing the military balance across the Middle East.
The issue has also been tied to larger diplomatic initiatives. During the administration of former President Joe Biden, US officials considered supplying F-35s to Saudi Arabia within a wider arrangement that would have included Saudi normalization of relations with Israel. Those negotiations did not produce an agreement, but they demonstrated how advanced weapons sales can become connected to broader political and security objectives.
Congressional Review Remains a Major Hurdle
State Department approval does not guarantee that the fighter sale will be completed. Congress still has an opportunity to review the proposed transaction, and lawmakers may subject it to close scrutiny.
US arms deals with Saudi Arabia have faced political resistance in the past, particularly after the 2018 killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Some members of Congress continue to question whether expanded military cooperation with Riyadh should move forward and may raise concerns about the strategic and political implications of transferring the F-35.
The congressional debate is likely to focus on several overlapping issues: the security impact on Israel, Saudi Arabia’s role in regional conflicts, the safeguards attached to advanced military technology, and the broader direction of US-Saudi relations. The review will therefore be about more than the aircraft themselves.
For now, the State Department’s decision marks a significant step, not a completed sale. Should Congress allow the transfer to proceed, Saudi Arabia would become the first Arab state in the region positioned to acquire the F-35, reshaping expectations around military modernization and US defense partnerships in the Middle East.
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