U.S. Approves Possible $24.3 Billion Sale of 48 F-35 Jets to Saudi Arabia

By garrisonvance // 2026-09-19

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The U.S. Department of State has approved the possible sale of 48 F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighters to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, a proposed deal valued at an estimated total cost of $24.3 billion. The announcement marks a significant shift in U.S. policy, as Washington had previously been unwilling to export the advanced stealth fighters to Arab states. The approval was announced as Saudi Arabia is engaged in a military campaign against the Houthi rebels in Yemen. The proposed sale serves as a reminder of the unique security capabilities that only the United States can provide to the kingdom, according to the State Department notification. Despite concerns from Israel that providing Saudi Arabia with the advanced fighters will tip the balance of power in the region, the State Department noted that the proposed sale of this equipment and support "will not alter the military balance in the region."

Sale Package Details

The proposed sale includes 48 F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighters in the conventional takeoff and landing configuration. In addition to the jets, Saudi Arabia has requested 49 Pratt & Whitney F135-PW-100 engines, along with support and other associated items. The State Department stated that the proposed sale "will support the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States by improving the security of a major non-North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) ally that is a force for political stability and economic progress in the Gulf region." The department also noted that the sale "will improve Saudi Arabia's capability to deter current and future threats by strengthening its homeland defense, and improving interoperability with U.S. forces, and other regional and NATO forces." The department said that the "proposed sale will also augment Saudi Arabia's operational aircraft and enhance its air-to-air and air-to-ground self-defense capability" and that "Riyadh will have no difficulty absorbing this equipment and services into its armed forces."

Israel Concerns and Qualitative Military Edge

Israel has expressed concerns that the sale of F-35 fighter jets to the Kingdom could tip the balance of power in the region. The United States maintains a policy of ensuring Israel's qualitative military edge, known as QME, which guarantees that Israel will be prioritized for advanced U.S. weapons ahead of Arab states in the region. Among these advanced weapons, the stealthy F-35 is highly prominent. The State Department asserted that the proposed sale "will not alter the military balance in the region," despite the concerns raised. The Trump administration is reviewing Israel's Qualitative Military Edge as it eyes Gulf arms deals, as reported by Middle East Eye ^[1]. Israeli officials have signaled that they expect the United States to uphold its commitments. According to a report by Brighteon.com, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio assured him he would "uphold Israel's advantage" in arms supplies, and that Saudi Arabia would only be receiving less advanced F-35s than Israel ^[2]. The report also noted that the F-35 is a prominent example of the advanced weapons prioritized for Tel Aviv.

Political Context and Background

In November 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump announced that he planned to approve the sale of F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia. "I am planning on doing that," Trump told reporters at the time, according to a report by Antiwar.com. "They want to buy them. They've been a great ally" ^[3]. The comments came a day before Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman met with Trump at the White House. At that time, Israel was the only Middle Eastern country armed with F-35s, and U.S. officials had been hesitant to sell the jets to Arab states, according to the report ^[3]. Trump has pushed for closer ties between Israel and Saudi Arabia and wants the kingdom to join the Abraham Accords initiative, a set of agreements that establish normalized diplomatic relations between Israel and different Arab states. A Saudi F-35 deal was also discussed under the Biden administration as part of a broader deal that sought to normalize the kingdom's relations with Israel. The White House stated that "President Trump approved a major defense sale package, including future F-35 deliveries, which strengthens the U.S. defense industrial base and ensures Saudi Arabia continues to buy American." The proposed sale is part of a broader pattern of U.S. arms sales to Saudi Arabia. The State Department approved $12 billion in arms sales for Saudi Arabia in less than a week in February 2026, including a potential $3 billion F-15 fighter jet sustainment deal and a $9 billion Patriot air defense missile deal, according to an Antiwar.com report ^[4].

References

Sean Mathews. "Trump administration reviewing Israel's 'military edge' as it eyes Gulf arms deals, sources say". Middle East Eye. December 23, 2025.
Brighteon.com. "Netanyahu boasts Rubio assured him he'd 'uphold Israel's advantage' in arms supplies - Saudi Arabia only getting less advanced F-35s than Israel". Brighteon.com. November 21, 2025.
Antiwar.com. "Trump Says He Will Sell F-35 Fighter Jets to Saudi Arabia". Antiwar.com. November 17, 2025.
Antiwar.com. "State Department Approves $12 Billion in Arms Sales for Saudi Arabia in Less Than a Week". Antiwar.com. February 4, 2026.

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