The U.S. Department of State approved a potential sale of 48 Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II fighter jets to Saudi Arabia on Thursday, a package estimated at $24.3 billion. The proposal remains subject to congressional review.
According to Reuters, the estimated $24.3 billion sale would include the 48 aircraft along with 49 Pratt & Whitney engines, communications equipment, spare parts and other support items. Politico, however, described the same 48-jet package as a potential $24 billion deal, a discrepancy in the reported price tag that has not been resolved. Times Now reported that the acquisition would add the F-35A variant to Saudi Arabia's existing military aircraft fleet, expanding the kingdom's air combat capabilities.
Deterrence and Interoperability Cited by Washington
The State Department said the proposed sale would improve Saudi Arabia's capability to deter current and future threats by strengthening its homeland defense, as reported by the New York Times. Saudi Arabia has sought the F-35 for years as it looks to modernize its air force and counter regional threats, particularly from Iran, per Reuters' reporting. The kingdom's push for advanced jets comes as Iran-backed Houthi forces have recently ramped up attacks on targets inside Saudi Arabia, according to CNBC.
Supporters of the deal argue it would deepen interoperability between Saudi and U.S. forces, and Times Now reported the sale would also improve coordination with other regional and NATO forces during joint operations. That framing echoes an earlier assessment from Wion News, which noted the F-35 would strengthen interoperability between Saudi Arabia and U.S. forces during joint operations.
Intelligence Concerns Over China's Reach
Not everyone in Washington is on board. U.S. intelligence agencies have raised concerns that China could acquire or steal the F-35's sensitive technology through Saudi Arabia, the Times reported.
Congress now has 30 days to scrutinize or attempt to block the deal, per CNBC's reporting. That review period puts the proposal before Congress. The United Arab Emirates officially paused its own proposed $23 billion F-35 purchase agreement back in December 2021 over concerns tied to Beijing and Huawei 5G technology, according to Politico.
Israel's Military Edge and a Smaller, Less-Advanced Fleet
If the sale proceeds, Saudi Arabia would become only the second country in the Middle East to operate F-35 jets, after Israel, the Times reported, citing medium-confidence assessment. Israel currently operates a fleet of about 50 F-35s, while Saudi Arabia would be slated to receive 48 under the proposal, according to Reuters. Politico noted that the proposed 48-jet Saudi fleet would be comparable in size to Israel's reported fleet of 50 jets.
Even so, the Saudi jets are expected to be less advanced than Israel's aircraft because of longstanding U.S. commitments to preserve Israel's qualitative military edge in the region, Reuters reported. Turkey, by contrast, has been barred from receiving the aircraft entirely since 2019 after it purchased anti-aircraft missiles from Russia, according to Al Jazeera.
What the F-35 Brings to the Table
The F-35 is an advanced fighter aircraft equipped with stealth technology, sensors, communications systems and weapons, according to Times Now. The jet is flown by the U.S. Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps, along with allied operators including the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Canada, Italy and Australia, according to Times Now.
Even with Thursday's State Department approval, the deal remains a proposal awaiting congressional review. For now, the lawmakers hold the next move.
