US approves potential $24.3 billion F-35 fighter jet sale to Saudi Arabia

The US State Department said Thursday that the Trump administration has approved a potential $ 24.3 billion sale of 48 F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia, making the kingdom the first Arab country to purchase the advanced aircraft, Reuters reported.

The State Department says the proposed package includes 48 Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning I aircraft, 49 Pratt & Whitney engines, communications equipment, spare parts and other support equipment. The sale still has to be approved by Congress.

The department said the sale would strengthen Saudi Arabia’s homeland defence, improve interoperability with US forces and help the kingdom deter current and future threats.

“The proposed sale will improve Saudi Arabia’s capability to deter current and future threats by strengthening its homeland defence, and improving interoperability with US forces,” the State Department said.

The Saudi Embassy in Washington welcomed the move as another step in defence cooperation between the two countries.

“The proposed F-35 sale reflects the strength and enduring nature of the Saudi US strategic partnership and the continued advancement of our defence cooperation,” it said on X.

Israel remains the only Middle Eastern country currently operating the F-35 and Washington has long maintained that arms sales should preserve its “qualitative military edge”.