U.S. approves proposed $24.3 billion F-35 sale to Saudi Arabia
The package reportedly includes 48 stealth fighters and could test Washington’s commitment to preserving Israel’s qualitative military edge.
The U.S. State Department reportedly approved a proposed $24.3 billion arms package for Saudi Arabia that includes 48 F-35 fighters. The move could deepen U.S.-Saudi defense ties and challenge Washington to maintain Israel’s qualitative military edge, but the source does not establish that delivery has begun or that all procedural steps are complete.
The U.S. State Department said it had approved a proposed $24.3 billion arms package for Saudi Arabia, including 48 F-35 Lightning II aircraft, 49 Pratt & Whitney engines, communications equipment, spare parts and other support items. Saudi Arabia had reportedly requested the aircraft from President Donald Trump earlier in 2025, after years of seeking to modernize its air force.
The reported approval does not by itself establish that the aircraft have been delivered or that every stage of the arms-transfer process has been completed. The deal would be a significant expansion of Saudi access to advanced U.S. military technology. Because the F-35 is a stealth aircraft and Israel is currently described in the source as the only Middle Eastern operator, the sale could affect regional military calculations and raise questions about how Washington will preserve Israel’s qualitative military edge, a longstanding U.S. policy consideration in arms sales to the region.
The development also fits the Trump administration’s broader emphasis on defense ties with Saudi Arabia. The source notes that Washington approved an approximately $142 billion Saudi arms package in 2025, which the White House called its largest defense-cooperation agreement. Whether the F-35 sale changes the regional balance will depend on final approvals, delivery timelines, operational integration and the capabilities of other regional militaries.