US approves potential $24.3bn sale of F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia

Washington, United States. The US Department of State said on Thursday it had approved the potential sale of Lockheed Martin’s F-35 Lightning II fighter jets to Saudi Arabia, as the kingdom is drawn deeper into war in the Middle East. The estimated $24.3 billion deal includes 48 aircraft, engines, equipment and support items.

Proposed sale

The potential sale would include 48 F-35 aircraft, 49 Pratt & Whitney RTX.N engines, communications equipment, spare parts and other support items, the State Department said.

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Saudi Arabia made a direct appeal for the jets to US President Donald Trump in early 2025 and has long sought to acquire the Lockheed Martin fighter.

Regional military balance

A sale would represent a significant shift in US policy and could alter the balance of military power in the Middle East. It would also test Washington’s policy of ensuring Israel retains a “qualitative military edge”, under which Israel receives more advanced US weapons than regional Arab states.

The F-35, which uses stealth technology to evade enemy detection, is regarded as the world’s most advanced fighter jet. Israel has operated the aircraft for a decade and has built multiple squadrons. It remains the only Middle Eastern country to possess the weapons system.

Saudi air force modernisation

Saudi Arabia, the largest customer for US arms, has sought the aircraft for years as it works to modernise its air force and counter regional threats, particularly from Iran.

The kingdom’s renewed request for what would amount to two squadrons comes as the Trump administration has indicated it is open to expanding defence cooperation with Riyadh. The Saudi Air Force operates Boeing BA.N F-15s, European Tornados and Typhoons.

Diplomatic and congressional considerations

The F-35 issue has been linked to wider diplomatic efforts. Former US President Joe Biden’s administration considered supplying F-35s to Saudi Arabia as part of a broader agreement that would have included Saudi normalisation of 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, described by the White House as “the largest defense cooperation agreement” Washington had undertaken.

Congressional scrutiny could challenge any F-35 sale. Lawmakers previously questioned arms deals with Riyadh after the 2018 murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, and some members of Congress remain cautious about expanding military cooperation with the kingdom.