The U.S. Department of State said it has approved the potential F-35 sale to Saudi Arabia, a package valued at an estimated $24.3 billion, as the kingdom deepens its involvement in the Middle East’s conflicts.
Officials said the move would represent a major policy shift that could reshape the region’s military balance and test Washington’s commitment to preserving Israel’s “qualitative military edge.”
Saudi Arabia made a direct request for the fighters in early 2025 to U.S. President Donald Trump and has long pursued Lockheed Martin’s F-35 Lightning II.
According to the State Department, the proposed sale includes 48 F-35 aircraft and 49 Pratt & Whitney engines, along with communications gear, spare parts, and other support. The notification to Congress begins a review period and the sale cannot proceed without lawmakers’ approval.
U.S. policy on arms sales in the region is structured to ensure Israel maintains a qualitative advantage, typically by securing access to more advanced American systems than Arab neighbors.
The Saudi Embassy in Washington welcomed the proposed transfer, calling it an advance in bilateral defense ties. In a statement on X, the embassy said the package reflects the strength and durability of the Saudi‑U.S. strategic partnership.
The F-35 is a fifth-generation fighter with stealth capabilities designed to reduce detection by adversaries. Israel has flown the jet for a decade, fielding multiple squadrons, and remains the only country in the Middle East currently operating the platform.
Saudi Arabia, the largest buyer of U.S. weapons, has sought the F-35 for years to modernize its air force and counter regional threats, particularly from Iran. The revived push for what would amount to two squadrons follows signals from the Trump administration of a broader expansion in defense cooperation with Riyadh.
The Royal Saudi Air Force now operates Boeing F-15s, as well as European Tornado and Typhoon fighters.
The fighter request has also figured into wider diplomacy. The administration of former U.S. President Joe Biden explored a package that could have included F-35s for Saudi Arabia as part of a broader arrangement tied to Riyadh normalizing relations with Israel, though that effort did not advance.
Trump has prioritized arms sales to Saudi Arabia since returning to office. In 2025, the United States agreed to a separate arms package valued at nearly $142 billion, which the White House described as the largest defense cooperation agreement in U.S. history.
Congressional review could still complicate an F-35 transfer. Lawmakers scrutinized past arms deals with Riyadh after the 2018 killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, and some remain cautious about deepening the security relationship.
Saudi Arabia continues to pursue broad economic and military modernization under Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s Vision 2030, seeking to diversify defense partnerships while maintaining its longstanding security ties with Washington.
What the F-35 sale to Saudi Arabia includes
The package outlined by the State Department encompasses 48 F-35 Lightning II fighters, 49 Pratt & Whitney engines, communications systems, spare parts, and associated support, all subject to congressional approval.
The proposed engines follow a broader pattern of modernization efforts for the platform, including recent work on the F-35 engine upgrade and other sustainment initiatives.
The State Department’s notification also underscores the depth of U.S.-Saudi defense cooperation, which spans air, land, and maritime domains and involves multiple American contractors such as Lockheed Martin and Pratt & Whitney.