The US State Department has cleared a potential sale of 48 Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II fighters to Saudi Arabia, in a deal valued at $24.3 billion. The notification sent to Congress on 17 September starts a 30-day review period before any contract can be finalised.
The package includes 49 Pratt & Whitney F135 engines, with one spare, as well as communications equipment, spare parts, training and logistics support. No delivery timetable has been disclosed, and the aircraft would not arrive immediately. The approval is preliminary rather than a completed contract, leaving lawmakers with the authority to block the transaction during the review window.
If completed, the sale would give Saudi Arabia its first F-35s and make it the first Arab operator of the stealth fighter. Washington has framed the proposed transfer as a way to strengthen Saudi air defence, improve interoperability with US forces and bolster the kingdom’s ability to deter air and ground threats.