The United States administration is currently giving serious consideration to a Saudi Arabian request to purchase as many as 48 F-35 fighter jets. This prospective multi-billion-dollar transaction has successfully cleared a crucial internal hurdle within the Pentagon, ahead of an expected visit by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
If approved, the sale would mark a dramatic shift in US policy, potentially altering the military power balance across the Middle East. Such a decision would directly challenge Washington’s long-held commitment to maintaining Israel’s “qualitative military edge” (QME), a doctrine ensuring the Jewish state receives more advanced US weapons systems than its regional neighbors.
Saudi Arabia, which has long been interested in acquiring the advanced Lockheed Martin fighter, made a direct appeal to US leadership earlier this year. Defense officials familiar with the discussions confirmed that the scope of the request—which would constitute two full squadrons of the jets—and its current progress through the US defense system had not been previously disclosed.
Although the transaction has advanced within the Defense Department to the secretary level following months of review by the Pentagon’s policy department, no final decision has been reached. Several high-level steps remain mandatory before the deal can receive the ultimate approval, including further consensus at the Cabinet level, a presidential signature, and formal notification to Congress.
The F-35 is recognized globally as the world’s most advanced fighter jet, featuring stealth technology designed to evade enemy detection. Israel has operated the aircraft for nearly a decade, building up multiple squadrons, and remains the only Middle Eastern nation to possess the weapons system.
The Kingdom, already the largest customer for US arms, has sought the fighter for years as it seeks to rapidly modernize its air force and counter regional threats, particularly those posed by Iran. This renewed effort aligns with the current administration’s expressed interest in deepening defense cooperation with Riyadh.
Past efforts to provide F-35s to Saudi Arabia, explored by a previous administration, were tied to a comprehensive diplomatic package that would have included Riyadh normalizing relations with Israel, though those initiatives ultimately stalled. The US President has prioritized arms sales to the Kingdom, pointing to a previous record $142 billion defense cooperation agreement.
However, significant challenges remain, primarily concerning Congressional oversight. Lawmakers have previously scrutinized arms deals with Riyadh, particularly following the 2018 killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, and skepticism remains among many members regarding increased military cooperation with the monarchy.
The pursuit of the F-35 is central to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s ambitious Vision 2030 agenda for military and economic modernization. The Kingdom is seeking to diversify its defense partnerships while firmly maintaining its decades-long core security relationship with Washington.
