The United States State Department announced on September 17, 2026, the formal approval of a potential $24.3 billion sale of Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II fighter jets to Saudi Arabia. This major military hardware package includes 48 stealth fighter aircraft, 49 Pratt & Whitney engines, alongside essential communications equipment, spare parts, and support systems.
The Strategic Calculus Behind the Saudi Air Force Modernization
Saudi Arabia has pursued the acquisition of Lockheed Martin’s stealth aircraft for years. The kingdom operates a diverse air fleet consisting of Boeing F-15s, European Tornados, and Typhoons, but Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s Vision 2030 agenda has prioritized sweeping defense modernization.
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The timing of this $24.3 billion package coincides with intensifying attacks against the kingdom. The Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen have recently escalated aerial assaults on Saudi targets while executing a lightning ground offensive to seize control of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a strategically vital oil choke point.
The Saudi embassy in Washington welcomed the clearance on X, describing the prospective transaction as a reflection of the enduring strategic partnership between Washington and Riyadh. State Department officials noted that the sale supports U.S. foreign policy by bolstering a major non-NATO ally acting as a force for regional stability and economic progress.
Navigating the Qualitative Military Edge and Regional Balance
This prospective sale tests long-standing American policy regarding the Middle East. Washington evaluates military exports to ensure that Israel maintains its “qualitative military edge” (QME), effectively guaranteeing that Israeli forces receive more advanced US weapons compared to regional Arab states.
Israel has operated F-35 aircraft for a decade, establishing multiple squadrons and remaining the sole operator of the platform in the Middle East. The Trump administration insisted that the proposed transaction with Riyadh would not alter the existing military balance in the region.
The F-35 issue has remained intertwined with broader diplomatic efforts for years. The previous administration under Joe Biden had explored providing the jets to Saudi Arabia as part of a comprehensive diplomatic package tied to Riyadh normalizing relations with Israel, though those negotiations eventually stalled.
Congressional Scrutiny and Technology Security Debates
The proposed deal now faces a mandatory 30-day review period in the U.S. Congress, where lawmakers hold the power to scrutinize or attempt to block the arrangement. Several legislators have already voiced sharp skepticism.
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Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi, D-Ill., expressed deep reservations on social media. “We must not sell our most advanced fighter jet anywhere the CCP may be able to get its hands on the technology inside it,” Krishnamoorthi stated, highlighting warnings from intelligence agencies that sensitive military secrets could be exposed.
Lawmakers have also frequently scrutinized arms transfers to Riyadh in the wake of the 2018 killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Despite these political headwinds, President Donald Trump has made robust defense sales a priority since returning to office. In 2025, the White House announced a nearly $142 billion defense sales agreement with Saudi Arabia, marking what the administration termed the largest defense cooperation agreement Washington has ever done.
As the 30-day congressional window ticks down, the debate in Washington highlights the constant tension between deepening economic and strategic ties with the Gulf’s largest arms customer and safeguarding elite American military technology.
