US greenlights $24.3 bn deal for 48 F‑35 jets to Saudi Arabia

The State Department announced on Thursday that it had given the green light to a $24.3 billion sale of 48 F‑35 stealth fighters for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It’s the biggest single jet deal the kingdom has pursued since the war with Iran erupted, and the price tag alone makes it headline news.

For years Saudi officials have floated the idea of buying the advanced fighter, but Israel – the only country in the region that already operates the aircraft – has been openly uneasy about the prospect. Even as diplomatic overtures try to bring Riyadh and Jerusalem closer, the Israeli security establishment worries that adding F‑35s to the Saudi arsenal could shift the delicate balance of power.

According to a State Department statement, the sale is intended to “improve Saudi Arabia’s capability to deter current and future threats” and to boost “interoperability with U.S. forces.” In plain English, the United States says the jets will help Riyadh defend its own skies and work more smoothly alongside American military units.

The Saudi embassy in Washington welcomed the decision, describing it as a sign of the “strength and enduring nature” of the bilateral relationship. It added that the partnership has “contributed to regional stability” and “advanced our shared security interests.” Whether those words hold up in the murky waters of Middle‑East geopolitics remains to be seen.

Saudi Arabia has been on the receiving end of a series of attacks – from Iranian‑backed drones and missiles to Houthi rebel strikes launched from Yemen. The conflict, reignited earlier this year, has seen Houthi forces seal off parts of the Red Sea and target Saudi shipping. While Washington has not officially entered the fray, a senior U.S. official said an American task force is already helping Riyadh with intelligence sharing and planning assistance.

The deal still needs the thumbs‑up from Congress, and the State Department offered no firm delivery timetable. In its usual diplomatic fashion, it stressed that the sale “will not alter the military balance in the region,” reaffirming a longstanding U.S. policy that Israel must retain a qualitative edge over its neighbours.

America’s track record with the F‑35 programme is selective – the jets have only been sold to close allies, such as NATO members and Israel. Turkey was even kicked out of the programme in 2019 after buying a Russian air‑defence system, a move that raised fears about technology leakage. Recent reports also hint at Chinese interest: U.S. intelligence has warned that Beijing could try to obtain F‑35 know‑how through its growing ties with Riyadh. Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi (D‑IL) voiced opposition to the sale, arguing it could hand “the crown jewels of American military technology” to the Chinese Communist Party.

This F‑35 package adds to a string of hefty Saudi purchases this year. Earlier in September, Washington approved a $5 billion deal for more than 10,000 bombs, including 2,000‑pound weapons. A $750 million agreement for 60 tank engines and a $1.96 billion contract for precision‑guidance kits for rockets have also been signed. All of this points to a robust, if controversial, arms relationship between the two nations.