Washington has cleared a potential sale of 48 F-35 Lightning II aircraft to Saudi Arabia under a proposed package worth up to $24.3 billion. The approval covers conventional-takeoff F-35 variants and 49 F135-PW-100 engines supplied by Pratt & Whitney, together with a broad range of mission and sustainment equipment. The proposed package includes communications systems, precision-navigation equipment, electronic-warfare database support, cryptographic solutions, training equipment, logistics and long-term sustainment assistance. The State Department said the transaction would support US national-security objectives, regional stability and bilateral defence cooperation. It also stated that the transfer would not change the regional military balance, reflecting US requirements to preserve Israel’s qualitative military advantage. Saudi F-35 ProposalThe possible acquisition follows a period of continuing regional conflict in which Saudi Arabia has faced aerial attacks associated with the Houthi movement in Yemen. Washington had already approved a separate Saudi defence package in 2025 valued at almost $142 billion, which the White House described as the largest defence cooperation agreement in US history. Saudi Arabia later sought the F-35 as part of that wider arrangement. The proposed F-35 transfer must now undergo a 30-day congressional review. US lawmakers could scrutinize issues such as Chinese influence and potential access to sensitive technologies incorporated into the stealth aircraft. Should the sale be completed, Saudi Arabia would follow Israel as the second Middle Eastern operator of the F-35. The F-35 measures 51 feet (16 m) in length and has an 11-metre (35-foot) wingspan. Its fuel capacity is 18,250 lb (8,278 kg). Depending on configuration, the aircraft can employ a GAU-22/A 25mm rotary cannon, guided bombs, missiles and the B61 nuclear weapon. Its sensor and targeting architecture, electronic countermeasures and communications systems are designed for multi-domain operations. The F135 engine allows the fighter to reach Mach 1.6 (1,228 mph/1,976 km/h), while its stated range is 1,500 nautical miles (1,726 miles/2,778 km) and its service ceiling is 50,000 feet (15,240 m).
