The US State Department has approved a possible Foreign Military Sale to Saudi Arabia for up to 48 F-35A Lightning II fighters, sending the package to Congress for review. Valued at about $24.3 billion, the proposed deal also covers 49 Pratt & Whitney F135 engines, support equipment, training, secure communications, precision navigation, cryptographic gear and electronic warfare items.
Lockheed Martin Aeronautics is named in the notification alongside Pratt & Whitney Military Engines. No weapons are included in the package, with one report indicating that any armament could be handled separately. The approval was notified to Congress on 17 September, beginning a 30-day review period during which lawmakers can examine the sale and potentially block it.
If completed, Saudi Arabia would become the first Arab state to field the F-35 and the second Middle Eastern operator after Israel. Deliveries are not expected immediately, and full fielding could still be years away. The notification follows a US-Saudi Strategic Defence Agreement signed in November 2025, which may have helped advance the proposed transaction.