The United States has approved a proposed $24.3 billion sale of 48 F-35 stealth fighters to Saudi Arabia, advancing a long-pending request by Riyadh for the state-of-the-art aircraft.
The announcement comes in the backdrop of multiple security challenges for Saudi Arabia, a key Washington ally, and world’s leading oil exporter.
According to a State Department notification sent to Congress, the package includes 48 Lockheed Martin F-35A fighter aircraft, 49 Pratt & Whitney F135-PW-100 engines, communications and cryptographic equipment, electronic-warfare support, spare parts, training and other logistical services.
The Trump Administration’s approval would need a final greenlight by Capitol Hill.
The U.S. Department of State has made a determination approving a possible foreign military sale to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for their purchase of F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter and related equipment. The estimated total cost is $24.3 billion.
This proposed sale will…
— U.S. Embassy Riyadh (@USAinKSA) September 17, 2026
Congress will have an opportunity to review the proposed transfer, including its potential implications for the military balance in the Middle East, especially with regard to the competitive edge for Israel, which the U.S. policy has prioritized for several decades.
The State Department, however, said the proposed sale would not alter the military balance in the region.
It said strengthening Saudi Arabia’s security would serve US foreign-policy and national-security interests, describing the kingdom as a major non-NATO ally.
The move comes as Saudi Arabia, one of the largest energy exporters in the world, faces heightened security concerns amid the widening U.S.-Iran conflict that has affected oil-producing countries across the Middle East.
Iran-aligned groups, including Yemen’s Houthis, have targeted or threatened energy infrastructure and shipping routes, adding to disruption across key Red Sea waterway Saudi exports as the militant group seized Bab al Mandab Strait.
The conflict has also affected shipping and energy flows around the strategically important Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea, raising concerns over the security of global energy supplies.
The F-35 request has been a longstanding Saudi ambition. President Donald Trump signaled support for the kingdom’s acquisition of the aircraft in November 2025, while the proposed sale follows a broader $142 billion US-Saudi defense package announced during the president’s visit to Riyadh last year.
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman expressed Saudi Arabia’s interest in acquiring the advanced US fighter jets.
Iftikhar Ali is a veteran Pakistani journalist, former president of UN Correspondents Association, and a recipient of the Pride of Performance civil award
