US evaluates potential multi-billion dollar F-35 fighter jet sale to Saudi Arabia

The administration of US President Donald Trump is evaluating Saudi Arabia’s request to purchase up to 48 F-35 fighter jets.

According to two sources familiar with the matter who spoke to Reuters, the potential multi-billion dollar deal has passed a significant approval stage at the Pentagon ahead of Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman’s planned visit on November 18.

The potential sale would test Washington’s policy of maintaining Israel’s “qualitative military edge” and could alter the military balance in the region.

It was known that Saudi Arabia had appealed directly to US President Donald Trump earlier this year and has long been interested in the fighter jet manufactured by Lockheed Martin Corp.

A US official and a source familiar with the negotiations told Reuters that Saudi Arabia has requested 48 aircraft. However, the size of the request and the current status of the process have not yet been clarified.

A final decision on the arms sale has not yet been made, and several more steps are required, including cabinet-level approval, Trump’s signature, and notification to Congress.

According to one official, the Pentagon’s policy unit worked on the potential transaction for months, and the file has now advanced to the ministerial level within the Department of Defense.

The Pentagon, the White House, and the State Department have not yet responded to requests for comment on the matter.

A Lockheed Martin spokesperson stated that military sales are government-to-government transactions and that it would be more appropriate for the issue to be handled by Washington.

Israel’s military superiority policy to be tested

In its arms sales to West Asia, Washington operates on the principle of preserving Israel’s “qualitative military edge.”

This framework ensures Israel’s access to more advanced US weaponry compared to Arab states in the region.

The F-35, produced with stealth technology that allows it to evade enemy radar, is considered the world’s most advanced fighter jet.

Israel, which has been using the F-35 for nearly a decade, has established multiple squadrons and is the only country in the region to possess this weapon system.

Saudi Arabia, the largest buyer of US arms, has also been requesting the F-35 for years.

The Royal Saudi Air Force’s current inventory includes Boeing-made F-15s as well as European-made Tornado and Typhoon aircraft.

Congressional oversight and diplomatic dimension

This new move by the Kingdom, corresponding to two squadrons, coincides with signals from the Trump administration that it is open to deepening defense cooperation with Riyadh.

The F-35 file also has a history linked to broader diplomatic initiatives.

The Biden administration had once considered supplying F-35s to Saudi Arabia as part of a comprehensive agreement that included Riyadh normalizing relations with Israel, but these efforts were unsuccessful.

Upon returning to office, Trump has made arms sales to Saudi Arabia a priority.

In May, the US agreed on a package worth approximately $142 billion, which the White House described as “Washington’s largest defense cooperation agreement to date.”

The potential F-35 sale could also face congressional scrutiny.

Some lawmakers questioned arms deals with Riyadh following the 2018 murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi and have remained cautious about deepening military cooperation with the kingdom.

A step aligned with Vision 2030

Preparations for the sale also align with Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman’s ambitious economic and military modernization plans under the Vision 2030 framework.

While maintaining its decades-long security relationship with Washington, the kingdom has sought to diversify its defense partnerships in recent years.