Washington ready to sell 48 F-35 stealth planes to Saudi Arabia, in the midst of conflict in the Middle East
The American government approved, Thursday, September 17, the sale of 48 F-35 stealth fighter jets to Saudi Arabia for $24.3 billion, a huge contract which comes in the middle of the conflict in the Middle East. As required by US law, the State Department has informed Congress of this proposed sale, which will require approval by US lawmakers. Some are opposed to it, partly due to fears that the technology of this cutting-edge device could leak to China.
“The proposed sale will strengthen Saudi Arabia’s ability to deter current and future threats by strengthening its national defense and improving interoperability with U.S. forces”indicated the State Department to justify the proposed sale. The actual delivery of these aircraft should take place over several years.
Saudi Arabia welcomed this announcement, emphasizing through its embassy in Washington that “The proposed F-35 sale demonstrates the strength and enduring nature of the strategic partnership between Saudi Arabia and the United States, as well as the continued progression of our defense cooperation”. Riyadh has long sought to acquire F-35s, but Israel – the only country in the region to operate these planes – had expressed strong reservations.
This sale of planes “will also increase Saudi Arabia’s number of operational aircraft and strengthen its air-to-air and air-to-ground self-defense capabilities”underlined the State Department. But she “will not modify the military balance in the region”according to this source, in accordance with long-standing US policy that Israel must have a military advantage over potential regional adversaries.
Reserved for closest allies
But the New York Times reported this week that US intelligence analysts had raised the possibility that Beijing could acquire F-35 technology through its partnerships with Riyadh.
“The Trump administration should not proceed with its plan to sell F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia when our own intelligence services warn that it could put the jewels of American military technology within the reach of the Chinese Communist Party”warned an elected Democrat, Raja Krishnamoorthi, member of the intelligence committee in the House of Representatives.
So far, the United States has only authorized the sale of F-35, an ultra-sophisticated fighter jet, to its closest allies, including several European NATO members and Israel. Washington excluded NATO member Turkey from the F-35 program in 2019, protesting Ankara’s purchase of a Russian air defense system.
This is the latest in a series of major arms purchases made by Saudi Arabia in 2026, in the midst of conflict in the Middle East caused by the American-Israeli strikes against Iran, launched in February. Since then, Saudi Arabia has been drawn into the conflict. Regularly hit by Iran, since July it has also faced an offensive by Yemeni Houthi anti-government forces, supported by Tehran, which is placing Riyadh, the world’s leading exporter of crude oil, under heavy pressure.
