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The U.S. State Department has approved a potential $24.3 billion sale of 48 Lockheed Martin F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia, clearing a major hurdle in Riyadh’s long-running effort to acquire the advanced stealth aircraft.

The proposed deal still requires a 30-day congressional review before it can move forward. The package would include 48 F-35 Lightning II aircraft, 49 Pratt & Whitney F135-PW-100 engines, communications equipment, spare parts, software, electronic warfare equipment, training and other support.

The approval could deepen the U.S.-Saudi defense relationship while raising questions in Washington and Israel over the protection of sensitive F-35 technology and Israel’s military advantage in the Middle East.

Saudi Arabia Seeks Advanced Fighter

Saudi Arabia has sought the F-35 for years as part of its effort to modernize its armed forces. The kingdom currently operates a mixed fighter fleet that includes US-made F-15s and European Eurofighter Typhoons and Tornado aircraft. The F-35 would add fifth-generation stealth capabilities to the Royal Saudi Air Force.

The aircraft is designed to reduce its radar signature and combine stealth with advanced sensors, communications, and electronic warfare capabilities. If the sale is completed, Saudi Arabia would become the first Arab country to operate the F-35.

The State Department said the proposed sale would strengthen Saudi Arabia’s ability to deter current and future threats and improve its interoperability with U.S. forces and other regional partners. It also said the transaction would not alter the military balance in the region.

Israel’s Military Advantage

The proposed sale has particular importance because of Israel’s existing F-35 fleet. Israel has operated the aircraft for about a decade and is currently the only Middle Eastern country with the F-35. Israeli plans to acquire another squadron would increase its fleet to 100 aircraft.

U.S. arms sales to countries in the Middle East are also subject to Washington’s policy of maintaining Israel’s “qualitative military edge.” The policy is intended to ensure that Israel retains military advantages over other countries in the region.

The Saudi purchase would therefore require the U.S. to consider how the aircraft and their capabilities are configured and supported while maintaining that policy. The State Department has said the proposed sale would not change the regional military balance.

Security Concerns

The proposed sale has also raised concerns in Washington over Saudi Arabia’s growing defense and technology relationship with China.

A U.S. intelligence assessment reportedly examined the possibility that Chinese intelligence services could gain access to sensitive F-35 technology through espionage or military cooperation with Saudi Arabia.

The assessment reportedly looked at Chinese access to Saudi military facilities and the kingdom’s use of Chinese technology in parts of its telecommunications infrastructure.

U.S. officials have raised concerns that these connections could create security vulnerabilities around facilities used to operate and maintain the F-35.

Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi, a Democrat from Illinois, has opposed the proposed sale. He warned that the agreement could put sensitive U.S. military technology within China’s reach.

The concerns have become an important issue as Saudi Arabia has expanded its military and economic ties with China while continuing to rely heavily on the U.S. for advanced defense systems.

Congress Has 30 Days to Review

The State Department’s approval does not mean that the sale has been completed. The proposed Foreign Military Sale has now entered the congressional review process.

Congress has 30 calendar days to examine the notification and could attempt to block the transaction through a joint resolution of disapproval.

The deal would then continue through the Foreign Military Sales process if Congress does not prevent it. The proposed package would involve Lockheed Martin Aeronautics and Pratt & Whitney as the principal contractors.

Deepening US-Saudi Defense Ties

The F-35 proposal is part of a broader expansion of US-Saudi defense cooperation under President Donald Trump.

Trump first announced plans for Saudi Arabia to receive the F-35 in 2025, ahead of a meeting with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

The two countries also agreed to a separate defense package worth about $142 billion in 2025, which the White House described as the largest defense cooperation agreement in U.S. history.

The Biden administration had also discussed the possibility of providing F-35s to Saudi Arabia as part of wider negotiations involving security cooperation and potential Saudi normalization of relations with Israel. Those efforts did not produce an agreement.

The latest proposal separates the fighter sale from those earlier diplomatic efforts and moves the aircraft deal forward through the U.S. arms-sales process.

Sale Comes Amid Regional Tensions

The proposed F-35 sale comes as Saudi Arabia faces renewed security challenges involving Yemen and the Iran-backed Houthi movement.

Saudi and Houthi forces have exchanged attacks in recent days, with the Houthis expanding their operations along parts of Yemen’s Red Sea coast and Saudi Arabia carrying out strikes against Houthi positions.

The regional situation has added pressure on Riyadh as it seeks to protect its territory and critical infrastructure.

The F-35, however, would represent a major step beyond simply replacing older aircraft. Its stealth, sensors, and networked capabilities would give Saudi Arabia a new type of combat aircraft alongside its existing F-15 and European fighter fleets.

If approved and completed, the $24.3 billion deal would make Saudi Arabia the first Arab operator of the F-35 and deepen its military relationship with Washington.

The aircraft would also give the Royal Saudi Air Force access to one of the most advanced fighter platforms in the U.S. inventory.

For now, the State Department’s decision clears the latest major step toward the sale, but the outcome depends on the congressional review and subsequent stages of the Foreign Military Sales process.