Saudi Arabia’s F-35 Deal: US Clears Potential $24.3 Billion Fighter Sale

13:40

The United States has taken a major procedural step toward supplying Saudi Arabia with 48 F-35A fighter jets, opening the way for one of the kingdom’s most significant military procurement projects to date.

The U.S. State Department has approved the potential sale, estimated at $24.3 billion, and formally notified Congress. Under the congressional review process, lawmakers have a 30-day period in which they can examine the proposal and potentially seek to block it. The notification does not constitute a completed contract, and the final terms could still change during negotiations.

The proposed package includes 48 conventional takeoff and landing F-35A aircraft and 49 F135 engines manufactured by Pratt & Whitney, including one spare engine. Training, communications equipment, spare parts, technical assistance and logistical support are also included.

The State Department said the proposed transfer would strengthen Saudi Arabia’s ability to respond to present and future threats while improving interoperability with U.S. forces.

Saudi Arabia moves closer to joining the F-35 club

Riyadh has sought access to the F-35 for years. If the transaction is completed, Saudi Arabia would become the first Arab country to operate the aircraft.

Israel is currently the only Middle Eastern country operating the F-35, making the proposed Saudi acquisition particularly significant for the region’s military balance. Washington has nevertheless stated that the proposed transfer would not undermine the existing regional military balance or its policy of preserving Israel’s qualitative military edge.

For Saudi Arabia, the acquisition would add a new generation of stealth aircraft to its air force and expand its capabilities in both air-to-air and air-to-ground missions.

The timetable would, however, extend well beyond the congressional review. Even if lawmakers allow the transaction to proceed, deliveries would take place over several years rather than providing Riyadh with an immediate increase in operational aircraft.

China-related security concerns

The proposed sale is also attracting scrutiny because of Saudi Arabia’s expanding military and technological relationship with China.

According to reporting cited in recent coverage, U.S. intelligence officials have raised concerns about the possibility of sensitive F-35 technology being exposed to Beijing through Saudi military facilities, telecommunications infrastructure or security cooperation.

The concerns echo Washington’s earlier decision concerning Turkey. In 2019, the United States removed Ankara from the F-35 program after Turkey acquired Russia’s S-400 air-defense system, amid U.S. concerns about the potential exposure of the aircraft’s technology.

The F-35 remains restricted to a relatively small group of U.S. partners, including Israel, NATO members and selected allies in the Indo-Pacific.

The regional security equation

The proposed aircraft sale comes as Saudi Arabia faces a more difficult security environment.

The United States has separately strengthened its security cooperation with Riyadh, while Saudi Arabia has sought additional military capabilities amid heightened tensions involving Iran and Yemen. The broader regional conflict has also increased pressure on Saudi infrastructure and raised concerns about maritime security around the Red Sea and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.

The U.S. State Department's current travel advisory for Saudi Arabia cites risks linked to Iranian drone and missile attacks and the wider regional conflict.

The F-35 proposal therefore arrives as part of a wider pattern of Saudi defense procurement rather than as an isolated transaction.

Congress holds the next key decision

The congressional review now represents the next major stage in the process. Lawmakers can raise objections during the statutory review period, while negotiations between Washington and Riyadh could still affect the final configuration and value of the agreement.

The political debate is likely to focus on several issues: the preservation of Israel’s qualitative military edge, the security of sensitive U.S. technology and Saudi Arabia’s relationship with China, as well as the broader strategic relationship between Washington and Riyadh.

For Saudi Arabia, the proposed purchase would mark a significant step toward acquiring one of the world's most advanced combat aircraft. For the United States, the decision places advanced military technology at the centre of a broader effort to reinforce its security partnership with Riyadh while managing competing regional and strategic considerations.

The proposed sale has therefore moved closer to reality, but the congressional review and subsequent negotiations mean that the final deal is not yet concluded.