Possible Sale of 48 F-35s to Saudi Arabia

Possible Sale of 48 F-35s to Saudi Arabia

The United States government, under the leadership of Donald Trump, is reviewing Saudi Arabia’s request to purchase 48 advanced F-35 fighter jets — a multibillion-dollar deal that has cleared a key hurdle at the Department of Defense and has been placed on the agenda to coincide with the visit of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

Informed sources and an American official have confirmed that Riyadh submitted its formal request to Trump in early 2025. Saudi Arabia, which has long sought to acquire the Lockheed Martin–built fighter, is now aiming to modernize its air force.

This potential sale marks a significant shift in Washington’s policies — one that could reshape the military balance in the Middle East and challenge the principle of “maintaining Israel’s qualitative military edge.” Israel has possessed the F-35 for nearly a decade and remains the only operator of the aircraft in the region.

Another U.S. official stated that the deal is still in the administrative phase and requires cabinet approval, Trump’s signature, and notification to Congress before it can be finalized. According to a Pentagon official, the Department of Defense’s Policy Office has worked on the case for months, and the matter has now reached the secretary’s level.

The Pentagon, the White House, and the State Department have so far declined to comment. A Lockheed Martin spokesperson also noted that military sales are conducted solely through governments and that the decision rests with Washington.

Saudi Arabia, the largest purchaser of American weapons, currently operates a mix of Boeing-built F-15s as well as European-made Tornado and Typhoon fighters. Riyadh’s renewed push to acquire two squadrons of F-35s comes as the Trump administration openly emphasizes expanding defense cooperation with the kingdom.

The issue is also tied to broader diplomatic initiatives. The Joe Biden administration had previously considered the sale of F-35s to Saudi Arabia as part of a comprehensive agreement that included normalization of relations between Riyadh and Israel, but that process was halted. Trump has now once again prioritized arms sales to Saudi Arabia.

In May, Washington approved a $142 billion arms package for Riyadh — an agreement the White House described as “the largest defense cooperation in U.S. history.” However, congressional review could pose a serious obstacle to the F-35 sale, as some lawmakers remain cautious about military ties with Saudi Arabia due to the murder of Jamal Khashoggi.

These developments come as the Saudi crown prince is scheduled to visit Washington on November 18 (November 27 in the Iranian calendar) for talks with Trump. A defense agreement and Saudi Arabia’s potential accession to the “Abraham Accords” are expected to be central topics of discussion. Trump had previously claimed in a television interview that Riyadh would ultimately join the accords.