U.S. State Department Approves Proposed $24.3 Billion F-35 Sale to Saudi Arabia

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 cited by Iran’s IRNA news agency from Reuters.

The reported package includes the aircraft, 49 Pratt & Whitney engines, communications equipment, spare parts and other support items. The announcement would represent a significant step in Saudi Arabia’s longstanding effort to acquire the U.S.-made stealth fighter and modernize its air force.

Saudi Arabia submitted a direct request for the aircraft to President Donald Trump in early 2025, according to the report. The proposed sale would make the kingdom one of the few operators of the F-35 and could have broad implications for the military balance in the Middle East.

## A potential shift in U.S. arms policy

The reported approval could mark a major change in Washington’s approach to advanced weapons sales in the region. The United States has traditionally evaluated arms transfers to the Middle East in light of its commitment to preserving Israel’s “qualitative military edge”—a policy intended to ensure that Israel maintains superior military capabilities compared with regional neighbors.

Reuters, as cited in the report, said the proposed sale could put that commitment to the test. The F-35 is designed with stealth technology intended to reduce its visibility to enemy radar and is widely regarded as among the world’s most advanced fighter aircraft.

Israel has operated the F-35 for about a decade and has established several squadrons of the aircraft. It is currently described in the report as the only F-35 operator in the Middle East. A Saudi acquisition would therefore end Israel’s regional exclusivity in operating the platform, although the precise configuration, capabilities and conditions attached to any Saudi aircraft were not detailed in the available evidence.

## Saudi Arabia’s modernization effort

Saudi Arabia has been seeking the F-35 for years as part of an effort to renew its air force and respond to perceived regional threats. The kingdom is also described as the largest customer for U.S. weapons, making the proposed transaction part of a broader defense relationship between Washington and Riyadh.

For Saudi Arabia, access to the F-35 would represent a substantial expansion of its air capabilities. The aircraft’s stealth design, advanced sensors and integrated systems are intended to support missions in heavily defended airspace. However, the available report does not specify when deliveries would begin, how the aircraft would be configured or what operational restrictions might apply.

The reported package also extends beyond the aircraft themselves. Engines, communications systems, spare parts and other support equipment are included, underscoring that the value of the agreement would cover a broader sustainment and logistics structure rather than only the 48 airframes.

## Part of a wider defense relationship

The proposed F-35 sale follows a broader expansion of arms ties under Trump’s administration. Since returning to the White House, Trump has made weapons sales to Saudi Arabia a priority, according to the report.

In 2025, the United States reportedly approved a separate Saudi arms package valued at approximately $142 billion. The White House described that agreement as the largest defense cooperation deal in Washington’s history.

Taken together, the two developments point to an effort to deepen the strategic and commercial relationship between the United States and Saudi Arabia. The F-35 proposal would be particularly consequential because of the aircraft’s technological status and its potential effect on the distribution of advanced airpower in the region.

## Unanswered questions

The available information does not state whether the reported approval constitutes a final completed sale, nor does it provide details about congressional review, delivery schedules, financing arrangements or the conditions that might govern the aircraft’s use. It also does not explain how Washington would address Israel’s qualitative military edge if Saudi Arabia were ultimately to receive the aircraft.

The report therefore establishes that the State Department announced approval of a proposed package, but further information would be needed to determine the agreement’s final terms and implementation. If completed, the sale would be a major development in U.S.-Saudi defense relations and could alter the strategic calculations of countries across the Middle East.