WASHINGTON — The US State Department has cleared the potential sale of F-35 Joint Strike Fighters to Saudi Arabia, fulfilling a commitment of President Donald Trump despite security concerns over transferring the highly advanced stealth jet to the Gulf kingdom.
In a notice published today, the State Department said Riyadh has been approved to buy up to 48 F-35As — the conventional takeoff and landing variant of the fighter — along with 49 F135 engines in a deal valued at up to $24.3 billion. The potential sale would include support equipment and training, among other items.
The F-35 is manufactured by Lockheed Martin, and the jet’s engine is made by RTX subsidiary Pratt & Whitney. Pratt referred questions to the Pentagon’s F-35 Joint Program Office.
In a statement to Breaking Defense, Lockheed said, “The government‑to‑government agreement to provide F‑35 aircraft exemplifies our shared commitment to enduring security, stability, and long‑term cooperation.” The statement further notes that the aircraft’s capabilities “directly support” Saudi Arabia’s “Vision 2030.“
“Lockheed Martin looks forward to continued collaboration as the U.S. Congressional review process advances,” the company said.
The terms of the deal are not final, as prices and quantities can fluctuate during negotiations. The State Department’s notice additionally tees up a 30-day review period for Congress, which has the power to block the sale.
While most arms deals are largely uncontroversial on Capitol Hill, the sale of F-35s to Saudi Arabia has drawn much greater scrutiny. Following a report in the New York Times this week that US intelligence has warned the sale of the stealth fighters to Riyadh could give Beijing access to the jet’s highly sensitive technology, some lawmakers have publicly raised concerns about the deal. It’s unclear, however, if enough legislators oppose the deal to block it.
Trump last year pledged to sell the stealth fighters to Saudi Arabia as part of a so-called Strategic Defense Agreement, and has floated similar offers for other prospective customers like India and Turkey — the latter of whom was ejected from the F-35 program after acquiring a Russian S-400 air defense system.
The approval would permit Saudi Arabia entry into an exclusive club of 20 international operators, including the US, of the only fifth-generation Western stealth fighter currently in production. It would also be a major coup against other Gulf countries like the United Arab Emirates who have similarly expressed interest in acquiring the fighter.
The sale comes at a critical time for Riyadh and the Gulf as a whole. Conflict with Iran has drawn Saudi Arabia, which hosts US bases, into open conflict with Tehran. The war has also dented oil exports key to Riyadh’s economy, including attacks by Iranian proxies on a critical Saudi oil pipeline that has now been taken offline.
The F-35 has been used heavily by the United States and Israel during the war. One Air Force F-35A was reportedly hit by ground fire after flying combat missions over Iran, though the pilot managed to land safely.
It’s not clear how the State Department assessed the sale, including congressional requirements for Israel to retain a “qualitative military edge” over its regional neighbors. The department’s notice, for its part, says the sale “will not alter the military balance in the region.”
The proposed F-35 sale for Saudi Arabia “will support the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States by improving the security of a major non-NATO ally that is a force for political stability and economic progress in the Gulf region,” the State Department’s notice says.
UPDATED 9/17/26 at 5:20 p.m. ET and 6:30 p.m. ET to note Pratt & Whitney referred comment to the F-35 Joint Program Office and to add comments from Lockheed Martin.
Breaking Defense Video
