U.S. approves $24.3 billion sale of F-35 jets to Saudi Arabia
The package includes 48 F-35 Lightning II aircraft, 49 engines and related support equipment, according to the State Department and Reuters-cited reporting.
The U.S. State Department reportedly approved a $24.3 billion arms sale to Saudi Arabia including 48 F-35 fighter jets, 49 engines and related equipment. The deal could affect the regional military balance and raise questions about the U.S. policy of preserving Israel’s qualitative military edge.
The U.S. State Department has approved a proposed $24.3 billion arms sale to Saudi Arabia that includes 48 F-35 Lightning II fighter jets, according to a statement reported by Iran’s IRNA citing Reuters.
The package also includes 49 Pratt & Whitney engines, communications equipment, spare parts and other support items. Saudi Arabia submitted a direct request for the aircraft to U.S. President Donald Trump in early 2025.
The reported approval could represent a major shift in U.S. policy and potentially alter the military balance in the Middle East. Reuters reported that the sale may also test Washington’s commitment to preserving Israel’s “qualitative military edge”—the longstanding U.S. policy of ensuring that Israel retains access to more advanced American weapons than other regional states.
The F-35 is a stealth fighter designed to evade enemy radar. Israel has operated the aircraft for about a decade and is currently the only country in the Middle East reported to possess it, according to the report.
Saudi Arabia, the largest customer for U.S. weapons, has sought the aircraft for years as part of efforts to modernize its air force and respond to regional threats. Since returning to the White House, Trump has made arms sales to Saudi Arabia a priority. In 2025, the United States approved an arms package for the kingdom valued at approximately $142 billion, which the White House described as the largest defense cooperation agreement in Washington’s history.