US clears possible F-35 sale to Saudi Arabia worth up to $24.3 billion
The deal would make Saudi Arabia the first Arab country approved to buy the fighter jet.
Published
The US State Department has approved a possible sale of F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia valued at up to $24.3 billion. The package includes 48 F-35 aircraft, 49 Pratt & Whitney engines, communications equipment, spare parts and other support items, according to Reuters.
The approval would make Saudi Arabia the first Arab country cleared to acquire the F-35, according to Bloomberg. The State Department said in its notice that the sale would not alter the military balance in the region, Reuters reported.
The proposal was sent to congressional committees in June 2026, opening an informal review process, according to Seoul Economic Daily. Approval at this stage does not mean a contract has been signed or that negotiations are complete, Reuters has noted in a similar prior case involving Saudi arms approvals.
The move reinforces the US commitment to Saudi Arabia's defense at a time of heightened tension in the Middle East, including Houthi attacks on energy infrastructure and Iranian missile activity. It also deepens the security relationship as Saudi Arabia pursues regional de-escalation through Omani mediation, a step that could help stabilize a major oil producer and support the supply-constrained conditions that have driven oil prices up 70% this year.