US Approves Potential USD 24.3 Billion Sale of 48 F-35 Jets to Saudi Arabia

The US government has approved a potential arms sale worth about USD 24.3 billion to Saudi Arabia for nearly 50 F-35 fighter jets. Announced on Thursday, the package includes 48 F-35 aircraft built by Lockheed Martin, 49 Pratt & Whitney engines and other components. In a statement, the State Department said the proposed sale would support US foreign policy and national security objectives by improving the security of a major non-NATO ally, describing that ally as a force for political stability and economic progress in the Gulf region.

The announcement comes as Yemen's Houthi movement has recently stepped up attacks on targets inside Saudi Arabia and launched a rapid ground offensive to seize control of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a strategically important chokepoint for oil shipments. The US government said the proposed deal would help Riyadh deter current and future threats but would not alter the regional military balance, language pointing to the long-standing US policy that Israel must maintain a military edge over potential adversaries in the Middle East. Congress has 30 days to review the deal or attempt to block it.

Some lawmakers have already raised concerns about the transaction. Congress had previously questioned arms sales to Riyadh after the 2018 killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

In May 2025, the White House announced a Saudi commitment to invest USD 600 billion in a series of deals with the United States, with Washington praising Saudi Arabia and its leadership at the time. The agreements included a defense sales package worth nearly USD 142 billion, which the White House said would provide the most advanced combat equipment and services from more than a dozen US defense companies. US President Donald Trump, who has close ties to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, hosted the crown prince at the White House in November 2025.