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

The US State Department announced Thursday it had approved a $24.3 billion deal to sell Saudi Arabia 48 F-35 stealth fighter jets, marking the latest in a string of major Saudi arms purchases this year following the start of the US-Israel war against Iran in February.

Riyadh has long pursued the acquisition of F-35s, but Israel — currently the only Middle Eastern country operating the aircraft — has expressed concern over the sale despite broader efforts to normalise relations between the two nations.

According to the State Department, the sale will strengthen Saudi Arabia's ability to deter current and future threats, improve homeland defence, boost interoperability with US forces, and enhance both air-to-air and air-to-ground self-defence capabilities. The Saudi embassy in Washington welcomed the agreement, describing it as a reflection of the enduring strength of the US-Saudi relationship and its contribution to regional stability.

Since the war against Iran began, Saudi Arabia has repeatedly come under drone and missile attack from Iranian-backed forces, as well as from Yemen's Houthi rebels. Fighting between the Houthis and the Riyadh-backed government reignited in July, with the rebels declaring a maritime blockade against Saudi Arabia and striking its vessels in the Red Sea. While Washington has not entered the conflict directly, a US military task force is reportedly assisting Saudi forces with intelligence sharing and planning.

The proposed sale still requires approval from the US Congress, and no delivery timeline has been set. The State Department stressed the deal would not shift the regional military balance, in line with longstanding US policy guaranteeing Israel's military edge. Washington has so far restricted F-35 sales to its closest allies, including several European NATO members and Israel; Turkey was removed from the programme in 2019 after acquiring a Russian air defence system.

Democratic Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi criticised the sale, citing intelligence community warnings that China could gain access to F-35 technology through its ties with Saudi Arabia. The kingdom has made several other major arms purchases this year, including $5 billion in bombs, $750 million in tank engines, and nearly $2 billion in precision-guidance equipment.