US approves $24B sale of F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia

The US State Department has notified Congress of a proposed $24.3 billion arms sale to Saudi Arabia, covering up to 48 F-35A Lightning II stealth fighter jets and 49 Pratt & Whitney F135 engines.

The notification, submitted on September 17, kicks off a 30-day congressional review window. Lawmakers can attempt to block the sale during that period.

What’s in the deal

The package goes well beyond airframes. Alongside the 48 F-35A jets, Saudi Arabia would receive associated equipment, spare parts, logistics support, and training programs. Lockheed Martin Aeronautics would serve as the primary contractor for the aircraft, with Pratt & Whitney supplying the engines.

The F-35A is the conventional takeoff variant of the Lightning II, the same model flown by the US Air Force and most allied nations. Until now, Israel has been the only country in the Middle East cleared to fly one.

The Israel question and the China concern

US law has long required that arms sales to the Middle East preserve Israel’s “qualitative military edge,” meaning Israel should maintain a technological advantage over any potential adversary in the region. Selling the same stealth fighter to Saudi Arabia complicates that calculus considerably.

The other major anxiety revolves around China. Saudi Arabia has deepened its technology partnerships with Beijing in recent years, spanning telecommunications infrastructure, AI development, and other sensitive sectors. Critics in Congress worry that giving Riyadh access to the F-35’s classified systems creates a potential pathway for that technology to reach Chinese intelligence services.

How we got here

This sale traces directly back to President Trump’s meeting with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the White House in November 2025. That visit produced commitments spanning energy, investment, and defense, with the F-35 sale serving as the centerpiece of the military relationship.

Saudi Arabia has been the largest US arms customer for years. For the kingdom, the motivation is straightforward: Saudi Arabia faces a persistent threat from Iran and its proxy forces, including the Houthi movement in Yemen, which has demonstrated the ability to strike Saudi territory with drones and missiles. The existing Saudi air force relies on older-generation platforms including the F-15, the Tornado, and the Eurofighter Typhoon.

The deal also carries an interoperability dimension. F-35 operators share data links and operational frameworks that allow allied air forces to coordinate more effectively, improving Saudi Arabia’s ability to operate alongside US and NATO forces.

What happens next

Congress now has 30 days to review the proposed sale. Lawmakers can introduce resolutions of disapproval to block the deal, though blocking an arms sale requires veto-proof majorities in both chambers.

If approved, F-35 production is already backlogged, with Lockheed Martin working through orders from existing partner nations. Saudi pilots and ground crews would need extensive training, and the kingdom would need to build specialized maintenance facilities capable of handling the aircraft’s sensitive stealth coatings and classified electronic systems.

The $24.3 billion price tag makes this one of the largest single arms deals in US history.

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