The US State Department has approved a foreign military sale to Saudi Arabia of 48 F-35 Lightning II combat aircraft and ancillary equipment valued at up to $24.3 billion.
The deal includes conventional takeoff variants of the jet, 49 F135-PW-100 Pratt & Whitney engines, advanced communications, and logistical support.
It also covers precision navigation, electronic warfare database support, cryptographic solutions, training equipment, and sustainment assistance.
Washington emphasized the purchase aligns with national security interests, boosting regional stability and defense cooperation.
“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 Gulf region,” the US State Department said.
It added that the transfer “will not alter the military balance in the region,” addressing long-standing legal mandates to preserve Israel’s military edge.
Second F-35 User in Middle East
The transaction comes as Riyadh faces constant aerial strikes from the Iran-backed Shia Islamist Houthi paramilitary group in Yemen, part of the larger conflict in the region involving Israel.
The US approved a separate arms package to Saudi Arabia in 2025 worth nearly $142 billion, which the White House called the largest defense cooperation agreement in US history.
Riyadh followed up with a direct request to US President Donald Trump to add the F-35 to that broader effort.
The latest proposal triggers a 30-day congressional review period, during which US lawmakers may challenge the decision over intelligence concerns regarding Chinese influence and military technology access on the stealth aircraft.
If completed, Saudi Arabia would become the second Middle Eastern nation after Israel to operate the fifth-generation fighter jet built by Lockheed Martin.
The F-35 Lightning II
The F-35 aircraft measures 51 feet (16 meters) long, has a 35-foot (11-meter) wingspan, and a fuel capacity of 18,250 pounds (8,278 kilograms).
It employs a GAU-22/A 25mm rotary cannon, precision-guided bombs, a B61 nuclear bomb, and various missiles for multi-domain attacks.
The plane is also fitted with advanced sensor and targeting systems, electromagnetic countermeasures, and an improved communications suite.
The jet’s F135 propulsion system enables a top speed of Mach 1.6 (1,228 miles/1,976 kilometers per hour), a range of 1,500 nautical miles (1,726 miles/2,778 kilometers), and a service ceiling of 50,000 feet (15,240 meters).
