Washington, September 2026 : The United States has approved a proposed $24.3 billion sale of 48 F-35 stealth fighter aircraft to Saudi Arabia, the State Department said on Thursday, marking the latest major arms deal between Washington and Riyadh amid heightened tensions in the Middle East.
Saudi Arabia has for years sought access to the advanced F-35 aircraft. The proposed sale has, however, faced concerns from Israeli officials, as Israel is currently the only country in the Middle East operating the US-made stealth fighters. The issue has gained added significance amid efforts to strengthen ties between Saudi Arabia and Israel.
The US State Department said the proposed transaction would strengthen Saudi Arabia's ability to respond to security threats and improve its defence cooperation with the United States.
“The proposed sale will improve Saudi Arabia's capability to deter current and future threats by strengthening its homeland defense, and improving interoperability with US forces,” the department said in a statement.
The department added that the deal would increase Saudi Arabia's operational aircraft capacity and enhance its air-to-air and air-to-ground self-defence capabilities.
The Saudi Embassy in Washington welcomed the proposed transaction, describing it as a reflection of the “strength and enduring nature” of the relationship between the two countries.
The embassy said security cooperation between Saudi Arabia and the United States had contributed to regional stability, strengthened collective defence capabilities and advanced the two countries' shared security interests.
Saudi Arabia has faced repeated drone and missile attacks attributed to Iranian forces since the United States and Israel launched their war against Iran in February. The kingdom has also been targeted by Iran-backed Houthi forces operating from Yemen.
Yemen's civil war, which had remained relatively subdued for several years, intensified again in July when fighting resumed between the Houthis and the internationally recognised government backed by Riyadh. The Houthis subsequently declared a maritime blockade against Saudi Arabia and targeted Saudi-linked shipping in the Red Sea.
Although the United States has not directly entered the Yemen conflict, a US official said earlier this week that an American military task force was working to strengthen intelligence sharing and provide planning assistance to Saudi forces.
The State Department has notified the US Congress about the proposed F-35 transaction. The sale will require congressional approval, while the department has not provided a timetable for delivery of the aircraft.
The department also said the proposed sale would not alter the military balance in the region. This is in line with longstanding US policy that Israel should maintain a qualitative military edge over potential regional adversaries.
The F-35 has so far been supplied only to the United States and a select group of close allies, including Israel and several European NATO members.
Washington previously removed NATO member Turkey from the F-35 programme in 2019 after Ankara acquired a Russian air defence system. US officials had expressed concerns that Russia could obtain sensitive information about the aircraft's technology through the system.
The proposed Saudi deal has also raised concerns in Washington over possible Chinese access to sensitive US military technology. The New York Times reported this week that US intelligence analysts had considered the possibility that Beijing could gain access to F-35-related technology through its partnerships with Riyadh.
US Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi, a Democratic member of the House Intelligence Committee, opposed the proposed sale on those grounds. He argued that the transaction should not proceed if US intelligence assessments indicate a risk that advanced American military technology could become accessible to China.
The F-35 agreement would be the latest in a series of major US arms deals with Saudi Arabia this year.
Earlier in September, the State Department approved a $5 billion sale of more than 10,000 bombs to Riyadh, including 2,000-pound weapons. Washington also approved a $750 million deal this month for 60 tank engines and related equipment for Saudi Arabia.
In July, the US approved another $1.96 billion agreement under which Saudi Arabia would acquire guidance sections capable of converting rockets into precision weapons.
The proposed F-35 sale therefore comes amid a broader expansion of US-Saudi defence cooperation and growing security concerns across the region.
(Disclaimer :The content of this article is sourced from a news agency and has not been edited by the Mavericknews30 team.)
