US Approves Potential $24.3 Billion Sale of 48 F-35 Fighter Jets to Saudi Arabia

Washington, D.C. (Terror Monitor) — The United States has approved the potential sale of 48 F-35 Lightning II fighter jets and related defense equipment to Saudi Arabia in a deal estimated to be worth $24.3 billion, according to a U.S. State Department notification to Congress.

The proposed package includes 48 F-35A aircraft, 49 Pratt & Whitney F135-PW-100 engines, communications equipment, spare parts, support equipment, training and other related services. The F-35A is the conventional takeoff and landing variant of the fifth-generation stealth fighter.

The State Department said the proposed sale would support U.S. foreign policy and national security objectives by strengthening the security of a major non-NATO ally that Washington considers an important force for political stability and economic development in the Gulf region.

According to the department, the proposed sale would enhance Saudi Arabia’s ability to address current and future threats, strengthen the defense of its territory and improve interoperability with U.S. forces, other regional partners and NATO forces.

The department also said the proposed transfer of the aircraft and related support “will not alter the military balance in the region.”

If finalized, the deal would make Saudi Arabia the first Arab country to operate the F-35 and only the second country in the Middle East after Israel to acquire the U.S.-made fifth-generation stealth fighter.

The proposed sale is not yet a completed contract. The State Department’s notification begins a congressional review process, during which lawmakers can examine the proposed transfer before any final agreement is concluded.

The deal comes as Saudi Arabia has been drawn deeper into the ongoing regional conflict and as Washington and Riyadh have strengthened their defense relationship. President Donald Trump previously backed the sale of F-35 aircraft to Saudi Arabia, and the proposed agreement represents a significant expansion of the kingdom’s access to advanced U.S. military technology.

The F-35 is manufactured by Lockheed Martin, while its F135 engine is produced by Pratt & Whitney. The proposed package would provide Saudi Arabia with advanced air-to-air and air-to-ground capabilities, along with secure communications, electronic warfare and other support systems.

The potential sale has also drawn scrutiny over the transfer of sensitive U.S. military technology and the requirement under U.S. policy to preserve Israel’s qualitative military edge in the Middle East. The State Department nevertheless said its proposed package would not change the region’s overall military balance.