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The US Department of State has approved the possible foreign military sale to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia of 48 F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter aircraft with conventional takeoff and landing capability along with 49 Pratt and Whitney F135-PW-100 engines, according to a notification sent to Congress. The package also encompasses support equipment, training aids, spare parts, electronic warfare database support and a range of cryptographic and communications devices, the State Department said in the transmittal. Saudi Arabia has requested the equipment to augment its existing fleet and strengthen both air-to-air and air-to-ground capabilities, with the department assessing that the kingdom would have no difficulty absorbing the new systems into its forces.
This proposed transaction will support the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States by improving the security of a major non-NATO ally that is a force for political stability and economic progress in the Gulf region, the State Department stated. The department added that the sale would improve Saudi Arabia’s ability to deter current and future threats while enhancing interoperability with US forces and other regional and NATO partners. A State Department assessment found the proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the military balance in the region.
Congress now has 30 days to review the proposed deal and could introduce a resolution of disapproval, according to multiple reports from Capitol Hill. Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi, a Democrat from Illinois, has already voiced opposition to the sale, citing risks associated with advanced technology potentially reaching adversarial hands, the BBC reported. Senators Ed Markey of Massachusetts and Jeff Merkley of Oregon introduced a joint resolution targeting a related conventional arms sale earlier this month, signaling continued legislative scrutiny over transfers to Riyadh.
The approval follows statements from President Donald Trump in 2025 that the United States would proceed with selling the F-35 to Saudi Arabia, reversing earlier policy holds, Aerospace Global News reported. Previous attempts to sell the aircraft to Gulf partners had stalled over concerns including human rights records and ties to other powers, with the United Arab Emirates ultimately withdrawing a similar request. The notification marks the latest in a series of major US-Saudi defense agreements, including a $142 billion arms package sealed during a 2025 visit by the Saudi crown prince.
If completed, the transaction would position Saudi Arabia as the first Arab nation to operate the F-35, following Israel’s existing fleet in the Middle East, Stars and Stripes noted in its coverage. The Royal Saudi Air Force already flies advanced US-built F-15 Eagles and European Typhoons, providing a foundation for integrating the new stealth fighters, according to industry analyses. The State Department notification emphasised that no additional US government or contractor personnel would be required in Saudi Arabia for the sale.
Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company in Fort Worth, Texas, and Pratt and Whitney Military Engines in East Hartford, Connecticut, would serve as the principal contractors for the program, the State Department listed in its release. The deal arrives as Saudi oil facilities and military sites have faced recent attacks from Iran-backed Houthi forces in Yemen, prompting heightened focus on bolstering Riyadh’s defensive posture, CNN reported. Lawmakers opposing the sale have argued that providing the advanced jets could complicate efforts to manage technology proliferation in a volatile region.
