US approves $24.3 billion sale of 48 F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia

Terms of the aircraft package

The United States Department of State approved a potential $24.3 billion military sale to Saudi Arabia on Thursday, covering 48 Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II fighter aircraft. The package includes 49 Pratt and Whitney engines, secure communications equipment, replacement parts, and logistical support. The transaction aims to improve the operational fleet and self-defense capabilities of the Royal Saudi Air Force for air-to-air and air-to-ground missions. Washington officially notified Congress of the proposed transfer, which requires legislative review before any contracts can be finalized. If completed, the delivery would make Saudi Arabia the only Arab nation operating the fifth-generation stealth platform, though delivery of the aircraft will take several years.

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.

Congressional scrutiny and regional balance

The sale faces opposition on Capitol Hill regarding sensitive technology security and regional defense parity. Lawmakers raised concerns over exporting fifth-generation fighter technology to Riyadh due to the kingdom's diplomatic and trade ties with China. Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi, a Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, warned that transferring advanced aircraft risks exposing critical defense software and designs to Beijing. A previous agreement with the United Arab Emirates during Donald Trump's first presidential term stalled under the Biden administration over similar espionage concerns. In the Middle East, Israel remains the only military operating the F-35. Israeli officials had requested that Washington condition any Saudi purchase on diplomatic normalization, but the Trump administration did not link the sale to formal peace accords.

Beijing has spent decades stealing American intellectual property and technology to close the gap with the United States, and we must not help them do it.

Escalating conflict and energy disruption

The arms approval follows a widening military confrontation across the Middle East that began with a joint US-Israeli offensive against Iran on 28 February 2026. In Yemen, Houthi forces launched operations against the internationally recognized government backed by Riyadh. Houthi units advanced along the western coast toward the Bab el-Mandeb strait, a waterway serving as an alternative shipping lane to the Strait of Hormuz, where Iranian threats affect 20% of global hydrocarbon trade. Saudi Arabia has faced retaliatory strikes from Tehran-aligned groups in Yemen and Iraq. These security pressures reduced Saudi oil production to its lowest level of the year, after Riyadh closed a critical oil export pipeline last week.

Preceding weapons transactions

The fighter jet deal is the latest in a series of defense authorizations approved for Riyadh throughout 2026. In July, Washington cleared a $2 billion package for 20,000 Advanced Precision Kill Weapon Systems. Earlier in September, the State Department authorized a $5 billion transaction providing 10,000 JDAM bombs and 10,000 BLU bombs along with associated guidance systems. The administration has also cleared billions in arms transfers to other regional allies since the start of the conflict. The State Department maintained that the proposed aircraft transfer will not alter the basic military balance across the region.