US clears US$24.3b sale of 48 F‑35 jets to Saudi Arabia amid Iran war

Washington has approved a $24.3 billion sale of 48 F-35 stealth warplanes to Saudi Arabia, the State Department announced on September 18. The kingdom's latest major arms purchase since the onset of the Iran war, Saudi Arabia has long desired to acquire the F-35s, though Israeli officials have expressed concerns about the sale, despite Saudi Arabia's push for regional normalization.

The proposed sale, according to a State Department statement, will bolster Saudi Arabia's defensive capabilities and interoperability with U.S. forces while also enhancing the country's air-to-air and air-to-ground self-defense. The Saudi embassy in Washington commended the transaction, highlighting its reflection of the enduring nature of the U.S.-Saudi relationship and its contribution to regional stability and shared security interests.

The kingdom has faced drone and missile strikes from Iran's forces and Yemeni Houthi rebels since the U.S. and Israel initiated the war against Iran in February. While Washington has not entered the conflict directly, an American military task force is enhancing intelligence sharing and planning assistance for Saudi forces. Congressional approval is pending for the sale, which would transfer the F-35s to Riyadh.

The U.S. maintains that the F-35 sale will not alter the regional military balance, adhering to the policy that Israel must maintain a military advantage over regional adversaries. The U.S. has only granted F-35 sales to its closest allies, including several NATO members and Israel. Concerns about potential Chinese espionage related to the jets have also been raised, with some U.S. lawmakers opposing the sale due to intelligence warnings about Chinese access to American military technology.

The F-35 sale is part of a series of significant arms deals by Saudi Arabia this year, including a $5 billion purchase of over 10,000 bombs, a $750 million deal for 60 tank engines, and a $1.96 billion contract for guidance sections to convert rockets into precision weapons.