USA18 September, 20263 min read
U.S. State Department Approves $24.3 Billion F-35 Sale to Saudi Arabia
approved sale of 48 F-35 jets to Saudi Arabia for $24.3 billion package includes 49 engines from Pratt & Whitney and related equipment
State Department clears F-35
The U.S. Department of State approved a possible sale of military equipment to Saudi Arabia, including F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighters, at an estimated total cost of $24.3 billion, and said the package would include 48 F-35A Lightning II aircraft and 49 Pratt & Whitney F135-PW-100 engines.
In a statement to Congress, the State Department said Saudi Arabia requested to purchase 48 F-35 Lightning II aircraft of the conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) variant, in addition to 49 Pratt & Whitney F135-PW-100 engines, consisting of 48 engines for the fighters and one spare engine.
The Saudi Embassy in Washington said the proposed deal “reflects the strength and continuity of the strategic partnership between Saudi Arabia and the United States,” and described decades of security cooperation as contributing to regional stability and joint defensive capabilities.
The State Department also said the proposed deal “will not alter the security balance in the region,” and it added that implementing the proposed deal will not require sending additional U.S. government or contractor representatives to Saudi Arabia.
Congress, Israel, and China
The controversy centers on Congress’s review window and concerns that sensitive technology could reach the Chinese Communist Party, with the BBC saying Congress has 30 days to scrutinise or attempt to block the $24bn (£17.8bn) sale to Riyadh. Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi of Illinois warned that the move could place the “crown jewels” of American military technology within reach of the Chinese Communist Party, and the BBC reported that other Democratic lawmakers and some American defence officials raised similar concerns.
The BBC also said the State Department stated the deal would improve “the security of a major non-Nato ally that is a force for political stability and economic progress in the Gulf region,” and that the proposed sale would not alter the military balance in the region. Israel’s position is framed through its existing F-35 fleet, with the BBC saying Israel currently has a fleet of 50 jets and that Israel’s ministry of foreign affairs announced in May it would procure another F-35 squadron, which the BBC said would double Israel’s F-35 fleet to 100.
What the deal includes
Beyond the aircraft and engines, the State Department’s description of the package includes AN/PYQ-10 crypto key loading devices, KIV-78 encryption units, and equipment for secure communications, precise navigation, and encryption. The State Department also said the deal would include support for electronic warfare databases, mission databases, and devices that operate with casings and propellants (CAD/PAD), along with equipment to support aircraft and munitions, spare parts, consumables and accessories, and repair and return services.
The Saudi Embassy in Washington reiterated its framing in a post on X, saying “Over the decades, Saudi-American security cooperation has contributed to regional stability and enhanced our collective capabilities,” and it described the deal as part of ongoing evolution in defense cooperation. The U.S. government said it does not currently have information about any compensatory arrangements connected to the potential deal, and it added that any such agreements would be determined through negotiations between the purchasing party and the contracting companies.