Washington has given the green light for a landmark defense sale to Riyadh, authorizing the transfer of 48 fifth-generation F-35 Lightning II stealth fighter aircraft along with 49 Pratt & Whitney F135-PW-100 engines — 48 installed on the aircraft and one spare unit. The State Department confirmed the announcement in an official statement on Tuesday, designating the proposed sale at a total cost of approximately $24.3 billion.
The approval follows months of diplomatic maneuvering between Washington and Riyadh and represents one of the most significant arms transactions the United States has finalized for Saudi Arabia since the early days of the bilateral defense partnership. The F-35 program, jointly developed by Lockheed Martin and its international partners, is widely regarded as the most advanced multirole stealth fighter in the world, capable of penetrating heavily defended airspace while delivering precision-guided munitions.
Under the terms of the deal, Saudi Arabia will also receive associated logistics support, training programs for Royal Saudi Air Force pilots and maintenance crews, and weapons systems that complement the new aircraft. The Pentagon's Defense Security Cooperation Agency, which oversees such foreign military sales, stated that the equipment will significantly enhance Saudi Arabia's air defense capabilities and contribute to regional stability.
Congress was formally notified of the sale in compliance with federal law, which gives lawmakers a 30-day review window before the deal can proceed to final execution. While Congress has expressed concerns in the past over the scale of arms sales to the Gulf kingdom — particularly given the human rights situation and Saudi Arabia's military involvement in Yemen — the current administration has pushed forward with the deal as part of a broader strategic recalibration of US-Saudi relations.
The sale comes against a backdrop of evolving security dynamics across the Middle East, with Saudi Arabia seeking to modernize its armed forces as part of Vision 2030, the kingdom's sweeping economic and social reform agenda led by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Analysts say the acquisition of F-35s would give Riyadh a decisive aerial advantage over regional rivals, including Iran, and signals Washington's continued commitment to its role as the primary security guarantor in the Gulf.
If fully implemented, the sale will be finalized through a contract with Lockheed Martin, which has been working closely with Saudi counterparts on integration planning. Delivery of the aircraft is expected to span several years, beginning with initial training batches and progressing to full operational capability for the Royal Saudi Air Force.
