Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II: What the $24.3 billion US-Saudi deal means for the Middle East | Today’s news
The US State Department has told Congress it plans to sell up to 48 Lockheed Martin F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia in a potential $24.3 billion deal that could reshape the military balance in the Middle East and test Washington’s long-term commitment to maintaining Israel’s “qualitative military advantage.”
The US State Department said the proposed sale would also include 49 Pratt & Whitney engines, communications equipment, spare parts and other support.
“This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States by improving the security of a major non-NATO ally that is a force for political stability and economic progress in the Persian Gulf region,” the State Department said.
However, the agreement still requires the approval of Congress.
What does this mean for US-Saudi relations?
The proposed sale is part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to deepen defense ties with Riyadh. In 2025, the US agreed to an arms package worth nearly $142 billion, which the White House described as “the largest defense cooperation agreement” Washington has ever entered into.
The sale of the F-35 also has a diplomatic history.
Saudi Arabia, America’s largest arms customer, has been seeking the fighter jet for years as it seeks to modernize its air force and counter regional threats, particularly from Iran. The kingdom’s renewed push to establish two squadrons comes as the Trump administration has signaled an openness to deepening defense cooperation with Riyadh. The Saudi Air Force flies a mix of fighter jets, including Boeing F-15s, European Tornadoes and Typhoons.
Previously, the Biden administration had explored providing jets to Saudi Arabia as part of a broader arrangement that included normalizing Riyadh’s relations with Israel, but those efforts stalled.
The Saudi Embassy in Washington welcomed the proposed sale, calling it the next step in defense cooperation between the two countries.
“The proposed F-35 sale reflects the strength and enduring nature of the Saudi-US strategic partnership and the continued development of our defense cooperation,” the embassy said in a statement.
Built using stealth technology that allows it to avoid enemy detection, the F-35 is considered the most advanced fighter jet in the world. Israel has operated the aircraft for a decade, has built several squadrons, and remains the only Middle Eastern country to possess the system.
