US Approves Sale of 48 F-35 Fighter Jets to Saudi Arabia in Major Policy Shift

The US State Department said on Thursday that it had approved the potential sale of Lockheed Martin’s F-35 Lightning II fighter jets to Saudi Arabia, marking a major development as the kingdom becomes increasingly involved in the broader Middle East conflict.

The proposed deal would represent a significant shift in US policy and could reshape the regional military balance while raising questions over Washington’s longstanding commitment to preserving Israel’s “qualitative military edge” over other countries in the region.

Saudi Arabia directly requested the advanced fighter jets from US President Donald Trump in early 2025 and has expressed interest in the F-35 for years. The potential $24.3 billion package would cover 48 F-35 aircraft and 49 Pratt & Whitney engines, along with communications systems, spare parts and other support equipment, according to the State Department.

US arms sales to Middle Eastern countries are traditionally assessed against the requirement that Israel retain its “qualitative military edge”, a policy that has generally meant Israel receives access to more advanced American weapons systems than regional Arab states.

The F-35 is equipped with advanced stealth technology designed to reduce its visibility to enemy radar and is widely regarded as one of the world’s most sophisticated fighter aircraft. Israel has operated the jet for about a decade and has developed several F-35 squadrons, making it the only Middle Eastern country currently operating the system.

Saudi Arabia, Washington’s largest arms customer, has pursued the F-35 for years as part of efforts to modernise its air force and address regional security concerns, particularly those involving Iran. Riyadh’s renewed request for 48 aircraft, enough to form two squadrons, comes as the Trump administration has indicated greater willingness to expand defence cooperation with the kingdom. The Saudi Air Force currently operates a diverse fleet that includes Boeing F-15s as well as European Tornado and Typhoon fighters.

The F-35 proposal has also been linked to wider diplomatic initiatives between Saudi Arabia, the United States and Israel. The administration of former President Joe Biden had explored a possible F-35 arrangement for Riyadh as part of a broader agreement that would have included Saudi-Israeli normalisation. Those negotiations, however, failed to produce a final deal.

Since returning to office, Trump has made expanded arms sales to Saudi Arabia a major priority. In 2025, Washington agreed to a defence package for Riyadh worth nearly $142 billion, described by the White House as the largest defence cooperation agreement in US history.

Any F-35 sale could face scrutiny in Congress. US lawmakers previously challenged arms agreements with Saudi Arabia following the 2018 killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, and some members continue to question closer military cooperation with Riyadh.

The potential F-35 purchase comes as Saudi Arabia pursues extensive economic and military modernisation under Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s Vision 2030 programme. Riyadh has also sought to broaden its defence partnerships in recent years while maintaining its longstanding security relationship with Washington.